The prevalence of pregnant women infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) undergoing HBV-DNA quantification tests and related factors at Thu Duc Regional General hospital, 2021-2022

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in children, transmitted vertically from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth, increases the risk of chronic HBV infection in the child. Screening to detect and evaluate HBV progression during pregnancy is recognized as an effective measure for preventing mother-tochild transmission. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women aged 24 to 28 weeks, as assessed by HBV-DNA quantification at Thu Duc Regional General hospital. The crosssectional study was conducted on pregnant women over 18 years old, between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, who visited Thu Duc Regional General Hospital from 2021 -2022. The results indicated that 10.5% of pregnant women positive for HBsAg. Among those who were positive for HBsAg, 87.6% agreed to take HBV-DNA quantification. Pregnant women with occupations as laborers or employees were 5.23 times more likely to refuse HBVDNA quantification compared to officers (p<0.05). Additionally, pregnant women with inadequate knowledge about mother-to-child transmission were 7.08 times higher to refuse HBV-DNA quantification compared to those with adequate knowledge (p<0.05). Enhanced health education for pregnant women about the benefits of HBV screening and evaluation, as well as monitoring and treatment for HBV-positive pregnant women, is necessary to actively prevent mother-to-child transmission.