Hepatitis B virus infection among children of hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers in a Malaysian hospital

• Main Authors: Chan, Wah Kheong, Yeoh, Kee Ying, Lim, Chia Ying, Lai, Su Meng, Lee, Jac Lyn, Leow, Alex Hwong Ruey, Goh, Khean Lee
• Format: Article
• Published: Malaysian Medical Association 2018
• Subjects: R Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/22275/; http://www.e-mjm.org/2018/v73n3/hepatitis-B-virus-infection.pdf

Introduction: There have been no published data on the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among children of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers in Malaysia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of all the children of HBsAg-positive mothers who delivered at the University of Malaya Medical Centre between 1993 and 2000. Results: A total of 60 HBsAg-positive mothers and their 154 children participated in the study. HBsAg was detected in four children (2.6%) while IgG antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc IgG) was detected in seventeen children (11.0%). The mother’s age at childbirth was significantly lower in the children with detectable HBsAg (22.5±6.1 years vs. 29.7±4.5 years, p=0.043) and anti-HBc IgG (26.6±6.1 years vs. 30.0±4.3 years, p=0.004). Children born in the 1980s were significantly more likely to have detectable HBsAg (18.8% vs. 0.7%, p=0.004) and anti-HBc IgG (37.5% vs. 8.0%, p=0.000) compared with those born later. All children with detectable HBsAg were born via spontaneous vaginal delivery, and hepatitis B immunoglobulin was either not given or the administration status was unknown. The majority of mothers with chronic HBV infection (70.4%) were not under any regular follow-up for their chronic HBV infection and the main reason was the lack of awareness of the need to do so (47.4%). Conclusion: Transmission of HBV infection among children of HBsAg-positive mothers in Malaysia is low. However, attention needs to be given to the high rate of HBsAg-positive mothers who are not on any regular follow-up.