Epidemiology of Hepatitis Delta Virus among Pregnant Women in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo

Introduction: HDV infection during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of perinatal transmission and liver complications for both mother and child. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HDV antibodies among pregnant women in Brazzaville, republic of Congo. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women in Pointe Noire, republic of Congo. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and risk factors for HDV infection. Participants blood samples were screened for anti-HDV. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 with a P-values Results: A total of 230 pregnant women with the mean age of 26.33±5.2 years old were included. Overall, 13/230 (5.6%) of the pregnant women were positive for HDV infection. Of these, age, occupation, body tattooing, history of surgery and multiple sexual exposure we’re not significantly associated with HDV infection (p >0.05). Conclusion: This study showed a high rate of HDV infection in pregnant women, which suggest an importance of systematic screening and management of HDV.