By Ana Espino | Published on July 30, 2025 | 2 min read
#HepatitisB #InfectiousDiseases
#Pregnancy
Hepatitis B is a viral liver
infection that can progress to a
chronic form, leading to serious complications
such as
cirrhosis or
hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2022, more than 254 million
people were living with the virus, making hepatitis B the
second leading cause
of infectious mortality worldwide, after COVID-19. In pregnant women, the main
concern is
mother-to-child transmission, which exposes the newborn to a high
risk of lifelong chronic infection.
Although the World Health
Organization has set a goal to
eliminate hepatitis B as a public health threat
by 2030, many countries—particularly low- and middle-income nations—still face
limited vaccination coverage and insufficient prenatal screening. For example,
in Ethiopia, numerous studies have investigated the
prevalence of the virus
among pregnant women, with widely varying results (from 2.3% to 7.9%) and
multiple risk factors identified.
The main challenges lie in
implementing
systematic screening during pregnancy, effectively
preventing
perinatal transmission, and improving
access to care. In this context, this
study aims to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women and
to identify the key risk factors in order to inform prevention strategies and
public health policies.
HBV in expectant mothers: who,
where, how many?
A total of
43 studies conducted
between
2003 and 2024, including
17,056 pregnant women across different
Ethiopian regions, were selected.
The study reveals an
overall
prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women in Ethiopia of
6% [95% CI:
5–7%], corresponding to an intermediate endemicity level according to WHO
criteria. The Tigray and Somali regions recorded the highest rates, each reaching
7%. Several
significant risk factors were identified, including having
multiple
sexual partners (OR = 12.69), a history of
blood transfusion (OR = 1.99), a
history of abortion (OR = 3.52),
body tattooing (OR = 1.70),
undergoing surgery
(OR = 9.87),
sharing sharp objects (OR = 9.24), and a
family history of
hepatitis B infection (OR = 11.20). The analysis revealed no significant
publication bias, and the findings were robust in sensitivity tests.
Breaking the chain: a feasible
challenge
Hepatitis B is a
viral liver
infection that can lead to
serious complications and be
transmitted from mother
to child, making perinatal prevention essential. One of the main challenges
remains
reducing this vertical transmission, particularly through better
prenatal screening, expanded vaccination coverage, and
effective management of
detected cases.
In this context, the aim of this
study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women in
Ethiopia while identifying associated risk factors. The findings highlight an
intermediate prevalence of 6% and
several modifiable risk factors associated
with infection. These data underscore the need to
strengthen prevention efforts
by integrating systematic screening into prenatal care, improving vaccination
coverage, and conducting further research to better understand hepatitis B
transmission during pregnancy.
Read next: HBV: Immunity asleep or awakened?
About the author – Ana EspinoPhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
