MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN A SEMIRURAL POPULATION IN EGYPT

  • 1 February 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 92  (1) , 20-26
Abstract
A follow-up study for one year was made on 35 babies born to HBsAg positive mothers in a semirural population in Egypt. Five of 21 babies (24%) showed HBsAg in the umbilical cord blood and remained positive throughout the observation period. At 3 months, eight of 37 babies (23%) were HBsAg+ve. At 6 months, 13 of 35 babies (37%) were HBsAg+ve and they were also still found positive at 12 months. None of 30 babies born to HBsAg-ve mothers developed antigenaemia throughout the observation period. Factors which significantly contributed to transmission were maternal educational level, family socio-economic standard, family residence, maternal e/anti-e status, and maternal schistosomal infestation. Factors which did not significantly affect transmission were maternal age, maternal parasitic non-schistosomal infestations, maternal transaminases level, order of the child in the family, and type of child feeding. Of particular note, four of five babies (80%)born to HBsAg+ve mothers who as well had schistosomiasis were HBsAg+ve throughout the observation period.