@article{fdi:010088851,
  title = {{B}urden of hepatitis {B} virus infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the southern {G}abon},
  author = {{M}avoungou, {D}. {S}. {K}. and {N}'{D}ilimabaka, {N}. and {E}lguero, {E}ric and {K}ombila, {L}. {B}. and {D}iane, {A}. and {M}oukouama, {S}. {E}. {K}. and {M}oussa, {Y}. and {M}ouinga-{O}ndeme, {A}. and {A}ghokeng {F}obang, {A}velin},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjectives: {H}epatitis {B} virus ({HBV}) infection remains a public health threat in middle-and low-income countries, where mother-to-child transmission plays an important role. {T}he aim of this study was to assess the burden of this infection among pregnant women in southern {G}abon and the risk of vertical transmission.{M}ethods: {T}he study was a prospective investigation conducted from {A}pril 2021 to {J}anuary 2022. {S}tudy participants were pregnant women aged 18 and over attending antenatal clinics in {F}ranceville. {B}lood samples were collected to test for {HBV} surface antigen, anti-hepatitis {B} core, hepatitis {B} e antigen, and anti-hepatitis {B} e markers and to assess {HBV} infection.{R}esults: {W}e recruited 901 women with a median age of 26 years (interquartile range: 21-32). {O}verall prevalence of infection was 3.9% (confidence interval: 2.7-5.4%). 418/901 or 46.4% were anti-hepatitis {B} core positive. {A}mong {HBV} surface antigen-positive women, 1/35 were hepatitis {B} e antigen-positive with a viral load > 200,000 {IU}/ml. {O}ver 64% of participants had no information about {HBV} infection, and none knew that the virus could be transmitted from mother to child.{C}onclusions: {T}his study reveals a low {HBV} prevalence in pregnant women in {G}abon and a low risk of vertical transmission of the virus. {H}owever, the rate of exposure of the population to the virus remains high and calls for improving actions and interventions for potential elimination goals.},
  keywords = {{H}epatitis {B} virus ; {P}regnant women ; {M}other-to-child transmission ; {G}abon ; {A}frica ; {GABON}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}jid {R}egions},
  volume = {9},
  numero = {},
  pages = {32--37},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.09.002},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088851},
}