Comparison of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV seropositivity of Syrian and Turkish pregnant women

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to compare the seroprevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficieney viruse (HIV) in Syrian pregnant women and Turkish pregnant women in our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, a total of 68,169 Turkish pregnant women who received HB surface antigen (HBsAg), HB surface antibody (anti-HBs), HCV antibody (anti-HCV), anti-HIV test, and a total of 11,015 Syrian pregnant patients who received HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests were examined retrospectively between January 2012 and January-2018 in Universty of Health Sciences Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. RESULTS: In our study, the rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV seropositivity were 1.1%, 0.1%, and 0.03% in Syrian pregnant women between 2012 and 2018, respectively. In the other study group, in Turkish pregnant women, HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV seropositivity rates for 2012 and 2018 were found as 1.8%, 0.2%, and 0.08%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although there were no significant differences between the HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV results of both groups, the anti-HBs positivity was higher at a significant level in Turkish pregnant women. The reason of the significantly higher anti-HBs positivity levels in pregnant women might stem from the fact that women are vaccinated and controlled regularly due to the policies in this regard in our country.