Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq.
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iraq.
PLoS One. 2022 Aug 23;17(8):e0273362. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273362. eCollection 2022.
Despite vaccine and antiviral treatment availability, hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to circulate among pregnant women in Iraq. HBV spread is due to many factors. This study evaluated HBV prevalence among pregnant women and Syrian refugees residing in Zakho city, Iraq, and identified risk factors associated with infection.
Demographic data were collected from 2,054 pregnant women via a questionnaire assessing risk factors associated with HBV infection. Blood samples were collected for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and were screened using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Tests revealed that 1.1% of pregnant women in Zakho and 11.3% of Syrian refugees (p = 0.001) were positive for HBsAg. The average age of HBsAg-positive patients was 31.4286 ± 6.6746 years (p = 0.002). Average rates of parity and abortion in HBV-infected subjects were 3.5 ± 2.6874 and 0.1785 ± 0.5479, respectively (p = 0.044 and 0.012, respectively). The following were identified as associated risk factors for HBV infection: nationality, (Zakho versus the city centre), tattoos, and polygamy (p = 0.001, 0.03, 0.007, and 0.001, respectively). No significant associations between HBV prevalence and blood transfusion, prior injection history, dental procedures, or surgical procedures were found.
The prevalence of HBV infection among Syrian refugees was higher than that of indigenous participants. Several risk factors were significantly associated with HBV positivity, which may facilitate effective preventive program implementation and decrease mother-to-child transmission risk. This will likely reduce infant and childhood HBV chronicity, and mortality rates.
尽管有疫苗和抗病毒治疗方法，乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）在伊拉克孕妇中仍在传播。HBV 的传播有许多因素。本研究评估了伊拉克扎胡市孕妇和叙利亚难民中 HBV 的流行情况，并确定了与感染相关的危险因素。
通过问卷调查收集了 2054 名孕妇的人口统计学数据，该问卷评估了与 HBV 感染相关的危险因素。采集血样进行乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）检测，并使用酶联免疫吸附试验进行筛查。
检测结果显示，扎胡的孕妇中有 1.1%（p = 0.001）和叙利亚难民中有 11.3%（p = 0.001）的 HBsAg 呈阳性。HBsAg 阳性患者的平均年龄为 31.4286 ± 6.6746 岁（p = 0.002）。HBV 感染者的平均产次和堕胎率分别为 3.5 ± 2.6874 和 0.1785 ± 0.5479（p = 0.044 和 0.012）。以下因素被确定为 HBV 感染的相关危险因素：国籍（扎胡与市中心）、纹身和一夫多妻制（p = 0.001、0.03、0.007 和 0.001）。未发现 HBV 流行率与输血、既往注射史、牙科手术或外科手术之间存在显著相关性。
叙利亚难民中 HBV 感染的流行率高于当地参与者。几个危险因素与 HBV 阳性显著相关，这可能有助于实施有效的预防计划，并降低母婴传播的风险。这将降低婴儿和儿童的 HBV 慢性化和死亡率。
