Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women and to determine the incidence of mother-to-child transmission.
Patients and methods: It was a prospective longitudinal study with a descriptive and analytical aim that took place in the maternity ward and in the pediatric department of the CHU of Cocody for 7 months. All newborns whose mothers were HBsAg carriers were included. The parameters studied in pregnant women were socio-demographic data, medical history, risk factors for HBV transmission, mode of delivery, and viral load. Concerning the newborn, the studied parameters were sex, gestational age, birth weight, HBsAg assay
Results: 231 pregnant women were carriers of HBs Ag antigen, an overall frequency of 5.4%. The incidence of mother-to-child transmission was 23.3%. This transmission was statistically related to the high viral load in the mother (p = 0.014). There was a statistical relationship between HBV infection and the occurrence of fetal hypotrophy (p = 0.008)
Conclusion: Health Education Program Focused on Preventing Vertical Transmission of HBV Must Accompany Expanded Infant Immunization Coverage
