HBV prevalent in Ugandan pregnant mothers and increased early childhood transmission

PHILADELPHIA — Hepatitis B virus is highly prevalent among the population in northern Uganda, including pregnant mothers aged 20 years or younger, according to data presented at IDWeek 2014.

“Hepatitis B is highly prevalent in Uganda, with a national average of 10%, but the Northern part of Uganda has a lot higher prevalence of 20% or more,” researcher Emmanuel Ochola, MBChB, MSc, of St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Gulu, Uganda, told Healio.com/Hepatology. “In this study, we wanted to see the prevalence amongst pregnant mothers and to get a glimpse of transmission to the babies.”

Emmanuel Ochola

Forty-seven pregnant women tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen of 397 pregnant women receiving services at antenatal clinics in the Gulu district of northern Uganda. Of those, four were positive for the hepatitis B e antigen. The HBsAg positivity rate was more prevalent in mothers aged 20 years or younger (20%) compared with mothers older than 20 years (8.7%; OR=2.54; 95% CI, 1.31-4.90).

“We found a Hepatitis B prevalence of 12% among all the mothers,” Ochola said. “The risk is 2.54 times higher risk in mothers 20 years of age or below. Of the 47 mothers, 15% were positive for Hepatitis B e antingen. We think this gives us an indication that there is quite some transmission taking place to the babies, and currently the program for vaccination starts at 6 weeks for babies, and if they are exposed [to hepatitis B before vaccination] and then we have a problem, it is too late.”

HBsAg positivity was not associated with HIV status (overall 11.8% HIV infected), according to the abstract, and no differences were observed between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative for liver enzymes, hemoglobin level, neutrophil or mean white blood cell count.

“We want to recommend vaccination at birth for hepatitis B for exposed babies,” Ochola said. – by Melinda Stevens

For more information:

Bayo P. Abstract 1149. Presented at: IDWeek 2014; Oct. 8-12, 2014; Philadelphia.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.