Author/Authors :
Alavian Seyed-Moayed نويسنده , Kooti Wesam نويسنده Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Sajadi Haniye Sadat نويسنده Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Behzadifar Meysam نويسنده Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, IR Iran , Mohammadibakhsh Roghayeh نويسنده Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran , Sohrabi Rahim نويسنده Iranian Social Security Organization, Zanjan Province Health Administration, Zanjan, IR Iran , Taheri Mirghaed Masood نويسنده Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Salemi Morteza نويسنده Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, IR Iran , Behzadifar Masoud نويسنده Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Saran Maryam نويسنده Faculty of Medicine,Department of Medicine,Lorestan University of Medical Sciences,Khorramabad,Iran , Luigi Bragazzi Nicola نويسنده Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of
Genoa, Genoa, Italy , Movagharnia Rabeh نويسنده Microbiology Department, Azad University of Varamin
-Pishva, Tehran, IR Iran , Heidarvand Ghelichi Sanaz نويسنده Bahrami Pediatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Ghashghaee Ahmad نويسنده Student Research Committee, Department of Health Services
Management Branch, School of Health Management and Information
Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR
Iran , Martini Mariano نويسنده Section of History of Medicine and Ethics, Department of
Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa , Darvishnia Maryam نويسنده Department of Nursing, Islamic Azad University Khorramabad
Branch, Khorramabad, IR Iran
Abstract :
Background Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is one of the most serious
infectious diseases and represents a major global health issue
worldwide. It can be transmitted vertically and horizontally through
contact with infected blood or body fluids. More attention to HBV
infection in pregnancy is needed due to high risk of chronicity when
transmitted to infants during delivery. Objectives A comprehensive
review of the HBV prevalence rate in pregnant females taking into
account different geographical areas and socio-economic status is still
lacking. This would be of crucial importance for HBV prevention and
control programs. As such, this systematic review and meta-analysis was
conducted focusing on HBV prevalence rate in pregnant females from
different parts of the world. Methods Different electronic databases,
including Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and ISI/Web of Science were
searched from January 1st 2000 to July 31st 2016, using relevant
keywords, such as “prevalence” or “seroprevalence” or “epidemiology” and
“pregnancy” or “pregnant” or “antenatal” in combination with “hepatitis
B virus” or “HBV” with no language restrictions. The study protocol of
this systematic review was deposited at the “International Prospective
Register of Systematic Reviews” and registered as CRD42016041985.
Results After scrutinizing all the extant scholarly literature from 2000
to 2016, this study found 222 relevant articles. The overall HBV
prevalence rate in pregnant females worldwide was estimated using a
random-effect model, giving a value of 3% (95% confidence interval or CI
2% - 4%). Heterogeneity between studies was significantly high
(I2 = 99.9%, P < 0.0001). The clinical and
epidemiological burden was higher in developing countries. Conclusions
This suggests that despite the recent scientific advancements and the
clinical progress that has occurred in anti-viral therapy, HBV still
represents a major issue worldwide, especially in underdeveloped
countries. The key strategies for preventing transmission from pregnant
females to their fetuses are through early birth dose and infant
vaccination, as well as by the use of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG)
and the screening and diagnosis of mothers at high risk and the
subsequent use of anti-viral agents during pregnancy in order to reduce
maternal DNA concentrations down to undetectable concentrations. Health
authorities should effectively implement these approaches to better
control HBV in pregnancy.
