January 2016 · Volume 5 · Issue 1 Page 170 International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology Raaj A et al. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jan;5(1):170-174 www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789 Research Article Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B virus and risk analysis of vertical transmission among pregnant women attending the obstetrics and gynecology hospital, Chennai (Tamilnadu), India Anusha Raaj 1 , Narayanasamy Krishnasamy 2 *, Karthick Rajendran 3 INTRODUCTION Hepatitis B viral infection is most important infectious diseases throughout the world particularly in developing countries. According to WHO, globally more than 240 million people are affected with chronic hepatitis B liver infections, Of these, an estimated about 7.8 million people die yearly due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B. 1 However, the epidemiology pattern and consequence of HBV and HCV infections varies greatly from one part of the world to another and changes in the time course. 2 HBV infection affects a large number of women of reproductive age throughout worldwide. In India, the prevalence rate of HBsAg positivity in pregnant women varies from 0.9% and 11.2%. 3-5 However, there is a scarcity of systematic information on the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in India including the study area. Screening and evaluation of hepatitis during the pregnancy is much more important to prevent mortality of mother and child. This will be useful to address the current prevalence status of hepatitis during pregnancy. 1 Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Department of Hepatology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India 3 Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Received: 13 November 2015 Accepted: 12 December 2015 *Correspondence: Dr. Narayanasamy Krishnasamy, E-mail: drkns_1963@yahoo.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Majority of the transmission of Hepatitis B viral infection occurs by vertical transmission from a carrier mother to infants. However, data regarding the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women and risk factors associated with vertical transmission are lacking in India especially South India. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at Institute of Obstetric and Gynecology and Department of Hepatology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The study included of 2730 consecutive pregnant women and 160 cord blood samples of neonates of HBsAg positive mothers. Results: The seroprevalence of HBsAg was found to be 5.86% among pregnant women. Vertical transmission was documented in 27.5% (44 of 160) of neonates born to mothers who were positive for HBsAg, it was highest in India reported anywhere. Although univariate analysis had shown the association of vertical transmission of HBV infection with maternal factors such as HBeAg, HBV DNA, Infection status, anti-HBe and mode of delivery, Multivariate analysis had revealed that LSCS is independent risk factor (OR, 0.057; 95% CI, 0.010 - 0.312; P<0.001) for vertical transmission. Conclusions: Prevalence of HBV in pregnant women was found to be high compared to general population reported earlier. LSCS had independent risk factor on vertical transmission than any other risk factors. Therefore, LSCS may not be advisable in HBsAg-positive pregnant women to prevent vertical transmission of HBV. Keywords: Seroprevalence, Hepatitis B virus, Vertical transmission, Lower segment cesarean section DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20151619