Seroepidemiological survey of hepatitis B virus infection among 764,460 women of childbearing age in rural China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

China has historically been a highly endemic area for hepatitis B infection. Progress has been made in tackling the disease in infants and children, but infection rates remain high in adults, especially in rural areas. Current data on the prevalence of HBV in women of childbearing age is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the HBV serological status of women of childbearing age in rural China to provide data to inform the development of prevention and control measures for hepatitis B.

STUDY DESIGN

Questionnaires and serum samples have been collected from rural couples aged 20-49 years in 292 counties in 2014. ELISA methods were employed to detect serum HBV markers.

RESULTS

From January to December 2014, 771,567 questionnaires and 764,460 blood samples were collected. Among these, 44,057 (5.76%) women tested positive for HBsAg and 100,519 (13.24%) tested positive for anti-HBc. In this sub group, 39,862 (39.66%) women also tested positive for HBsAg. There were 338,528 (41.67%) tested positive for anti-HBs and single anti-HBs presented in 259,800 (33.98%) women. In total, 385,140 (50.38%) tested negative for all HBV markers. Of the HBsAg positive participants, 12,520 (28.42%) were positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg, and therefore infectious although this declined with age (P<0.001). Prevalence of HBsAg positivity was highest in the 'eastern' region (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

HBV prevalence among women of childbearing age in rural China has declined compared to the 2006 National study of women aged 15-59 years (5.76 vs. 6.73%), but remains high.