What is it about?
Most Hepatitis B infection in the world is a result of mother to child transmission. It is a problem because the infection can result in liver cirrhosis and live cancer in mid age adults. Most of these infection are in SE Asia. This publication points to a high prevalence (8.3%) of chronic hepatitis B in pregnant women (refugees and migrants) living on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. Of these chronic infections, one third were hepatitis B e Antigen which increases infectivity and makes transmission infection to their newborn more likely. This suggests that the standard hepatitis B vaccination program was not available to these women when they were young. Indeed older women were more likely to be infected.
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Why is it important?
These data are important because they highlight the need for an active Hepatitis B immunization program in this population. In post-conflict Kayin state there are many difficulties to overcome to ensure vaccination: including public awareness, geography, cold chain and vaccine supply.
Perspectives
Alternatives approaches are needed. Oral tenofovir offered to infected women while pregnant may be a reasonable approach to reduce viral load and transmission from mother to child. Studies on safety and feasibility are needed. See ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02995005
Prof Rose McGready
Shoklo Malaria Research Unit
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: High hepatitis B seroprevalence and risk factors for infection in pregnant women on the Thailand-Myanmar Border, The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, April 2016, Journal of Infection in Developing Countries,
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.7422.
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