Hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence in pregnant women before and after national vaccinations

Background. Hepatitis B in pregnant mothers can pose a risk to both the mother and the baby. If left untreated or undiagnosed, hepatitis B can be passed from mother to child during childbirth, leading to chronic hepatitis B infection in the baby. However, with proper prenatal care, including testing and vaccination, the risk of transmission can be significantly reduced. This study investigates the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence in pregnant women before and after the start of the national hepatitis B vaccination plan. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on all pregnant mothers in Babol County who gave birth between 2018 and 2020. Then the mothers’ information, including a history of vaccination, place of residence, and HBsAg status, was recorded and checked through the online system and their health records. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and were displayed as frequency and percentage. Qualitative variables were analyzed with Chi-square tests. Finally, with the logistic regression model, we investigated the effect of variables on hepatitis. In all tests, P-value less than 0.05 is significant. Results. The prevalence of positive HBsAg among 11 282 pregnant women in Babol city was 61 (0.5%). The prevalence rate among vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers was 8 (0.2%) and 53 (0.7%), respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The Prevalence of positive HBsAg among city and village residents was 26 people (0.4%) and 35 people (0.7%), respectively, and this difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Also, rural (p = 0.02, OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.08–302) and unvaccinated (p 0.001, OR = 3.79, 95%CI: 1.79–8.01) mothers had a higher chance of contracting hepatitis B. Conclusion. The results indicated that national hepatitis B vaccination in newborns has notably decreased infection rates in future childbearing women. Hepatitis B is a preventable disease through vaccination. The vaccine has demonstrated both safety and high immunogenicity. It is crucial to maintain the immunization of newborns and adhere to the screening guidelines for pregnant mothers as outlined in the national program.