Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection among Pregnant Women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo: Prevalence, risk factors, and Genotype Distribution
Abstract
Background
Mother-to-child
transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant public health
problem. Most children under five years living with HBV in endemic areas like
sub-Slivingan Africa. Vertical transmission is considered the main newborn's
route of contamination, which leads in 90% of cases to the chronic stage of the
disease.
Objectives
To determine the seroprevalence
and identify risk factors of carrying hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) in
pregnant women, assess biochemical parameters, and study the distribution of
HBV genotypes among infected pregnant women in Lubumbashi.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional descriptive and experimental
study in which 1711 pregnant women were recruited. The study took place in the
hospital Jason Sendwe of Lubumbashi. A pre-established epidemiological survey
form was used to collect data from the study population.
Results
The seroprevalence
of HBV among pregnant women was 4.4%. Blood transfusion and unprotected sex
have been associated with the risk of carrying HBsAg. Increased levels of
bilirubin and transaminases were observed. The genotypes E (59.4%), A (40.6%),
and a few drug resistance mutations were identified in the study population.
Conclusion
With an HBV
seroprevalence of 4.4%, MTCT of HBV remains a public health concern in
Lubumbashi. This result highlights the vital role of HBV screening in pregnant
women and newborns and early HBV vaccination. In addition, the obtained HBV
genotyping data could help better understand the local epidemiology of the
disease, predict the outcome of the Antiviral therapy, and develop a mapping of
HBV genotypes in Lubumbashi.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Genotypes, Hepatitis B Virus,
Pregnant women.
Arsène Kabamba a,c,*, Christian Kakisingi b,
Claude Mwamba b, Christophe Nyembo b, François Dufrasne c,
Géraldine Dessilly c, Benoit Kabamba c, Albert Longanga a
a Laboratoire de Biologie Clinique, Faculté
des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Université de Lubumbashi, 1825 Lubumbashi-DRC;
b Faculté de Médecine, Université de
Lubumbashi, 1825 Lubumbashi-DRC;
c Institute of Experimental and Clinical
Research (IREC), Pôle de Microbiologie, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200
Brussels, Belgium.
* Correspondance to
Arsène Kabamba, Université de Lubumbashi, Laboratoire de Biologie Clinique,
Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques; Tel: +243992143587, +243812143587, E-mail:
tshikongok@unilu.ac.cd, arsene.kabamba@gmail.com
Author contributions
A.K. designed and
performed all the experiments. A.K., A.L., B.K. wrote the manuscript in
consultation with C.K., C.M., C.N., F.D., and G.D.
Comments