PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B INFECTION IN MARRIED WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN DISTRICT ISLAMABAD

Background: mother to infant transmission of hepatitis b virus (hbv) represents a major factor in maintaining chronic infection and depends on the degree of maternal infectivity status. the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis b virus surface antibodies (hbsab) and surface antigen (hbsag) and e antigen (hbeag) among married women of child bearing age in district islamabad. material & methods: it was a cross-sectional, community-based, sero-epidemiological survey. about 3cc blood samples of 277 healthy women of reproductive age group were collected after informed consent. a questionnaire was filled which included information about the socio-demographic parameters, place & mode of birth, hepatitis b vaccination status, hbv vaccination, any household with hbv infection and reasons for not having hbv vaccination. the samples were tested for hepatitis b surface antibodies and hepatitis b surface antigens by meia “microparticle enzyme immunoassay technique. all hbsag-positive samples were also tested for hbeag to see active replicating virus. results: out of 277 samples, 39(14.07%) were found positive for anti hbs. twenty nine (10.46%) were positive for hbsag out of which 3(1.08%) were positive for hbeag. mean age was 29.81 years (21-42 years). conclusions: 14.07% females of district islamabad were found positive for anti hbs showing past exposure to hbv with recovery and/or immunity. 10.46% women were positive for hbsag showing exposure to hbv and about 10% women in this hbsag positive group were also positive for hbeag showing highly infective stage with active replicating virus where chances of virus transmission to the newborn are almost 90% in pregnant women