Different interventional criteria for chronic hepatitis B pregnant women with HBeAg(+) or HBeAg(-): Epidemiological data from Shaanxi, China

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its impact on pregnancy outcomes of women from Shaanxi Province (China) was assessed. Risk factors for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) were evaluated based on HBV-related seroprevalence data. Viral markers and biochemical parameters were assessed in HBsAg-positive mothers and their infants out of 13,451 cases recruited. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to test the general HBV knowledge. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were done to reveal possible risk factors for MTCT. The overall prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women was 7.07% (951/13,451), and a rate as high as 9.40% was observed. Among the HBsAg-positive pregnant women, 30.49% (290/951) were HBeAg-positive, 22.08% (210/951) had HBV DNA levels >10(6) IU/mL and only 16.19% with a high risk of MTCT (34/210) had received antiviral treatment. The overall MTCT rate was 5.21%. Noteworthy, the risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of MTCT in HBeAg-negative mothers with HBV DNA levels >2 × 10(3) IU/mL and HBsAg >10(4) IU/mL was 26.062 (2.633–258.024), which was significantly higher than that of HBeAg-positive mothers with HBV DNA level >10(6) IU/mL. Moreover, the awareness and knowledge about HBV transmission, risk factors, and intervention for MTCT were generally lacking among HBsAg-positive mothers. As a higher HBsAg seroprevalence and a higher MTCT rate among HBeAg-negative mothers with lower HBV DNA level was observed, our study emphasizes different interventional criteria for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative mothers. Extensive health education, routine screening, and immunization against HBV during pregnancy are highly warranted to minimize the possibility of perinatal transmission.