Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Associated Risk Factors to Control Vertical Transmission Among Pregnant Women Attending The Governmental Hospitals in Sana’a, City 2023.

Authors

  • Nasser Saood Author
  • Kamal AL-Himyari Author
  • AL-Motasembellah AL-Sharabey Author
  • Hesham Talhan Author
  • Pakr Bajr Author
  • Mohammed AL-Najjar Author
  • Mohammed AL-Shebani Author
  • Ahmed AL-Shahethi Author
  • Samir AL-Hakimi Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65693/irss.2024.v5i1.167

Keywords:

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Sero-prevalence, Pregnant Women, Risk Factors, Vertical Transmission, Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT), Governmental Hospitals, Sana'a, Yemen.

Abstract

إليك النص الكامل والحرّف للملخص باللغة الإنجليزية (English Abstract) كما ورد في ملف أطروحة التخرج المرفق "بحث (2).pdf":

English Abstract

Background of study Hepatitis B is infectious disease caused by DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) viruses grouped under hepadnavirus type that contains a core of DNA enveloped by surface glycoproteins. The mood of transmission of HBV varies according to the geographic local. so there is a high prevalence of the prenatal transmission in the regions of the world during the childbirth a representing 90% of cases, and 10% is transmitted horizontally. HBV has a prolonged incubation period that estimates (from 2 weeks to 26 weeks), most people don't experience any symptoms when they are newly infected. however some people have acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including jaundice, dark urine, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain so people with acute hepatitis b can develop acute liver failure. the full recovery is made by adult with 90-95% following acute HBV infection. 5-10% develop a chronic hepatitis b infection that usually lasts for life. It's not possible on clinical ground to differentiate hepatitis b from hepatitis caused by other viral agent. Hence the laboratory confirmation is essential. and several blood tests are available to diagnosis, and to monitor and distinguish acute and chronic infected patient.

Objectives The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis b and it's associated risk factors to control vertical transmission among pregnant women attending the governmental hospitals in Sana'a, 2023.

Methods the a cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending delivery rooms in AL-Thawrah, AL-Sabeen and AL-Gumhouri hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. to determine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection and associated risk factors, the sample size of the target population was calculated to include 384 Yemeni pregnant women attending the delivery rooms at the study place. the sample size was determined by using single population proportion formula. pregnant women attending hospital to deliver were consecutively enrolled until the sample size reached the saturation point. data was collected by using a close-ended questionnaire. they included the following socio-demographic characteristics: age, residence, education level, occupation, marital status, parity, and risk factors and medical history. a blood specimen was collected for detecting of HBeAg from HBsAg carrier women data were coded and entered into SPSS version 21.0 for descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.

Results The overall prevalence of hepatitis B was (3.2%), the vast majority of participants 99.7% were married, more than 36.1%, of the target pregnant women had basic education, 67.3% of them were housewives, 33.2% of pregnant women have had a medical history of taken vaccination to HBV. While only 20.2% of the participants have had a history of blood transfusion and 42.0% of the participants have had a history surgery, more than half 37.0% of them have had a history of dental procedures, only 1,3% of participant have had a history of dialysis. The positivity of prevalence for HBsAg was: about 5.4% among the age group 30 years and above, about 5.09% were illiterate, about 2.2% were married regarding marital status, and 5.7% were housewife Regarding the overall sero-prevalence of HBsAg only 3.2% of the participating pregnant women had a positive sero-prevalence of HBsAg. The prevalence of HBsAg was about 5.0% among the pregnant women who had a history of dental process The prevalence of HBsAg was about 4.5% among the pregnant women who had a history of surgery, the prevalence of HBsAg was about 2.6% among the pregnant women who had a history of blood transfusion. About 16.7% of positive HBsAg women have had a positive HBeAg and about 33.3% of positive HBsAg women have had a vaccine and immunoglobulin for her child.

Conclusions The sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection was 3.2% which had a moderate severity among pregnant women who attended the governmental hospital according to WHO. The prevalence of HBeAg among positive HBsAg pregnant women was 16.7% which means that infectivity status was low. The prophylaxis treatment to prevent mother to child transmission was done in 33.30% of positive HBsAg pregnant women. there is statistically significant association between the sero-prevalence of HBV infection and low income among pregnant women who participated in the study at (P-value>0.05). there is no statistically significant association between the sero-prevalence of HBV infection and other Demographic Characteristics among pregnant women who participated in the study. There is statistically significant association between the sero-prevalence of HBV infection and history of blood transfusions of pregnant women at level (P-value >.005).

Recommendations

  • To Introduce Routine Screening To Include All Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic In Health Centers Or Hospital During Antenatal Period.

  • Using Standard Infection Control To All Risk Factors Such As Blood Transfusion And Surgery.

  • Using Of HBV Infection Vaccine And Immunoglobulin To All Newborn With Positive HBsAg Mother To Prevent Vertical Transmission.

  • Introducing Antiviral Therapy In Pregnant Women Who Had HBeAg Positive To Reduce Vertical Transmission.

  • Early Case Detection And Proper Treatment, Especially If The Pregnant Women Have Jaundice.

References

• Aaron, M.harris (2020) Prevalence of HBV, Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-related-infectious-diseases/hepatitis-b (Accessed: April 8, 2023).

• Al-Ismaili, O.M., Al-Jardani, A., Al-Hinai, F., Al-Shukri, I., Mathew, M., Al-Abri, S. and Al-Kindi, H., 2022. Prevalence of Hepatitis B Infection Among Pregnant Women in Oman. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 12(3), pp.311-315.

• Al-Wesabi, M. (2020). The reality of the Yemeni health sector and the role of September 21 University for Medical and Applied Sciences in reforming it and building the modern Yemeni state (M. Dael, Trans.). Institutional Repository for Scientific Scholarship at 21 September University for Medical and Applied Sciences, 1(1), 106-133. https://doi.org/10.65693/irss.2020.v1i1.47

• Al-Wesabi, M., & Shamlan, M. (2022). The Effect of Applying Infection Prevention and Control Standards in Sana’a Governorate Hospitals at the Level of Reducing the Spread of Diseases and Epidemics. Journal of 21 September University for Medical and Applied Sciences, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.65693/masj.2022.v1i1.17

• Alyahawi A, Measar M, Alwesabi M, Alkaf A. (2024). Clinically Significant Statin-Drug Interactions in Older Patients with Chronic Diseases. Pharmaceutical Research - Recent Advances and Trends Vol. 4, B P International, pp.1-21. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/prrat/v4/598

• Amsalu, A., Ferede, G., Eshetie, S., Tadewos, A. and Assegu, D., 2018. Prevalence, infectivity, and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Yirgalem Hospital, Ethiopia: implication of screening to control mother-to-child transmission. Journal of pregnancy, 2018.

• Arciuolo, R.J., Lazaroff, J.E., Rosen, J.B., Lim, S. and Zucker, J.R., 2020. Trends in hepatitis B surveillance among pregnant women in New York city, 1998-2015. Public Health Reports, 135(5), pp.676-684.

• Asafo-Agyei, K.O. and Samant, H., 2020. Pregnancy and viral hepatitis.

• Bamdad, T. and Yari, A. (2022) Hepatitis viruses, Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity. Elsevier. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128187319000781 (Accessed: April 14, 2023).

• Barkat, B. and Naseeb, A.A., 2020. Sero-prevalence and Associated Factors of Viral Hepatitis B and C infection among Pregnant Women in Alaeen Valley, Hadhramout Governorate, Yemen (Doctoral dissertation, Al-Razi University).

• Boucheron, P., Lu, Y., Yoshida, K., Zhao, T., Funk, A.L., Lunel-Fabiani, F., Guingané, A., Tuaillon, E., van Holten, J., Chou, R. and Bulterys, M., 2021. Accuracy of HBeAg to identify pregnant women at risk of transmitting hepatitis B virus to their neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(1), pp.85-96.

• Burns, G.S. and Thompson, A.J. (2014) "Viral hepatitis B: Clinical and epidemiological characteristics," Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 4(12). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspeCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HBV (2022).. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/pregnancy/effects/hbv.html#:~:text=Hepatitis%20B%2Ovirus%20infection%20in, will%20become%20infected%20with%20HBV. (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2016). 'Hepatitis B'. http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2019). Hepatitis B Questions and Answers for Health Professionals. Updated July 2, 2019.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic test results. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Gasim, G.I., Murad, I.A. and Adam, I., 2013. Hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women in Arab and African countries. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 7(08), pp.566-578.

• Ghosh, M., Nandi, S., Dutta, S. and Saha, M.K., 2015. Detection of hepatitis B virus infection: a systematic review. World journal of hepatology, 7(23), p.2482.

• Giri, S., Sahoo, S., Angadi, S., Afzalpurkar, S., Sundaram, S. and Bhrugumalla, S., 2022. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology.

• Hall, J.E. and Hall, M.E., 2020. Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology e-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

• hepatitisb.org.au/bookmarks (Acce Bookmarks (2018) B Positive. Available at: https://www.hepatitisb.org.au/bookmarks (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Ibrahim, B., Mahfouz, M.S., Erwa, M., Abdelrahim, G., Ibrahim, E., Yassin, A.O. and Ageely, H.M., 2012. Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Jazan Region-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2(7), pp.39-43.

• Jefferies, M., Rauff, B., Rashid, H., Lam, T. and Rafiq, S., 2018. Update on global epidemiology of viral hepatitis and preventive strategies. World journal of clinical cases, 6(13), p.589.

• John, W., 2020. A Coalition Advancing Progress Toward Global Hepatitis Elimination: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities. Medical Bulletin, 25(9).

• Kassaw, B., Abera, N., Legesse, T., Workineh, A. and Ambaw, G., 2022. Sero-prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Hawassa city public hospitals, Southern Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study design. SAGE Open Medicine, 10, p.20503121221140778.

• Kumar, V., Abbas, A.K. and Aster, J.C., 2017. Robbins basic pathology e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

• Liang, T.J., 2009. Hepatitis B: the virus and disease. Hepatology, 49(S5), pp.S13-S21.

• Liu, J., Liu, J., Liu, M., Pang, Q. and Wen, Y., 2020. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and its associated factors among 15,461 pregnant women in Yunnan province, China. Annals of Epidemiology, 49, pp.13-19.

• Liu, J., Wang, X., Wang, Q., Qiao, Y., Jin, X., Li, Z., Du, M., Yan, W., Jing, W., Liu, M. and Wang, A., 2021. Hepatitis B virus infection among 90 million pregnant women in 2853 Chinese counties, 2015-2020: a national observational study. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, 16, p.100267.

• Liu, J.F., Chen, T.Y. and Zhao, Y.R., 2021. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus: propositions and future directions. Chinese Medical Journal, 134(23), pp.2825-2831.

• Mac, P.A., Suleiman, A.C. and Airiohuodion, P.E., 2019. High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Central Nigeria. J Infect Dis Epidemiol, 5(1), p.068.

• Magaji, F.A., Okolo, M.O., Hassan, Z., Shambe, I.H., Pam, V.C., Ocheke, A.N., Yiltok, E.S., Golit, W., Anzaku, S.A., Daloek, M. and Ogwuche, J., 2020. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine, 19(3), p.176.

• Mayoclinc, S. (2022) Symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/symptoms-causes/syc-20366802?p=1 (Accessed: April 8, 2023).

• Murad, E.A., Babiker, S.M., Gasim, G.I., Rayis, D.A. and Adam, I., 2013. Epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in pregnant women in Sana'a, Yemen. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 13(1), pp.1-5.

• Navabakhsh, B., Mehrabi, N., Estakhri, A., Mohamadnejad, M. and Poustchi, H., 2011. Hepatitis B virus infection during pregnancy: transmission and prevention. Middle East journal of digestive diseases, 3(2), p.92.

• Navvabi, N., MH Khadem Ansari, A. Navvabi, H. R. Chalipa, and F. Zitricky. "Comparative assessment of immunochromatography and ELISA diagnostic tests for HBsAg detection in PCR-confirmed HBV infection." Revista de Gastroenterología de México (English Edition) 87, no. 2 (2022): 176-180.

• Penman, I.D., Ralston, S.H., Strachan, M.W. and Hobson, R. eds., 2022. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

• Qabban, K. A., Al-Wesabi, M. M. (2025). The Impact of Career Development on Improving Nursing Performance in Yemen Hospitals - Sana’a. Sana’a University Journal of Human Sciences, 4(11), 277-317. https://doi.org/10.59628/jhs.v4i11.1809

• Qabban, K. A., Al-Wesabi, M. M., Jowah, H. M. (2025, May 7). Impact of Joint Commission International patient-centered standards on nursing performance in Sana'a, Yemen hospitals [Preprint]. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6372401/v1

• Raimondo, G., Cacciamo, G. and Saitta, C. (2005) Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection: Additive players in chronic liver disease?, Annals of Hepatology. Elsevier. Available at: https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-annals-hepatology-16-articulo-hepatitis-b-virus-hepatitis-c-S1665268119320721 (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Rana, N.A., Munir, B., Hussain, N. and Imtiaz, N., 2020. Seroprevalence, biochemical investigation and risk factor assessment for HBV & HCV Infection in Hospital Based Patients of Islamabad, Pakistan. Journal of Bioresource Management, 7(2), p.2.

• Sirilert, S. and Tongsong, T., 2021. Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnancy: immunological response, natural course and pregnancy outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(13), p.2926.

• SM, A.R., Abou-Lohum, T.S., El-Didy, H., El-Eriani, H., Mansour, S. and Hafez, A.S., 1991. Hepatitis B infection in Sana'a City, Republic of Yemen. Prevalence among pregnant women and materno-foetal transmission. The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 66(5-6), pp.491-503.

• Sullivan, D. (2022) Hepatitis B: Incubation Period, treatment, and getting tested, Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-the-incubation-period-for-hepatitis-b (Accessed: April 13, 2023).

• Taherkhani, R. and Farshadpour, F., 2022. Prevalence, genotype distribution and mutations of hepatitis B virus and the associated risk factors among pregnant women residing in the northern shores of Persian Gulf, Iran. Plos one, 17(3), p.e0265063.

• Tesini, B.L. (2023) Neonatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection - pediatrics, MSD Manual Professional Edition. MSD Manuals. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infections-in-neonates/neonatal-hepatitis-b-virus-hbv-infection (Accessed: April 8, 2023).

• Wakjira, M., Darega, J., Oljira, H. and Tura, M.R., 2022. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Ambo town, Central Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 15, р.101054.

• World Health Organization, 2022. Hepatitis: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus.

• World Health Organization, www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b.

• Wu, K., Wang, H., Li, S., Zhang, H. and Zhu, B., 2020. Maternal hepatitis B infection status and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective cohort analysis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 302, pp.595-602.

• Yao, N., Fu, S., Wu, Y., Tian, Z., Feng, Y., Li, J., Luo, X., Yang, Y., Ji, F., Chen, Y. and Liu, J., 2022. Incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B in relation to maternal peripartum antiviral prophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ActaObstetricia et GynecologicaScandinavica, 101(11), pp.1197-1206.

Published

2026-06-30

Issue

Section

Scientific Scholarship of Faculty and Students of the Faculty of Medicine at 21 September University for Medical and Applied Sciences

Categories

How to Cite

Saood, N., AL-Himyari, K., AL-Sharabey, A.-M., Talhan, H., Bajr, P., AL-Najjar, M., AL-Shebani, M., AL-Shahethi, A., & AL-Hakimi, S. (2026). Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Associated Risk Factors to Control Vertical Transmission Among Pregnant Women Attending The Governmental Hospitals in Sana’a, City 2023. Institutional Repository for Scientific Scholarship at 21 September University for Medical and Applied Sciences, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.65693/irss.2024.v5i1.167

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

11-20 of 63

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.