Epidemiological assessment of interventions to eliminate mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B virus in japan. Issue 2 (19th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugiyama, Aya; Yamashita, Mami; Ko, Ko; Ohisa, Masayuki; Akita, Tomoyuki; Wakita, Takaji; Tanaka, Junko
• Is Part Of: GastroHep. Volume 3:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2021-01-19
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Hepatology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1002/ygh2.441
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2689-3711

Abstract

Abstract: Background: In Japan, the national program for prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection started in 1986. This program involves hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing of all pregnant women and administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccines to all infants born to HBsAg‐positive mothers. This nationwide study was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan to verify the effectiveness of the prevention project. Methods: We asked all local governments (N = 1741) to submit the anonymised results of antenatal HBsAg testing. The study period for pregnant women was from April 2014 to March 2016. Results: In this study, 398 023 HBsAg test results were analysed, corresponding to about 20% of the total number of births (2 009 098). A total of 897 pregnant women were HBsAg‐positive (prevalence 0.23%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22%‐0.24%). The prevalence of HBsAg in the birth cohort after implementation of the prevention project was significantly lower than that before the project. HBV prevalence was higher in foreign‐born pregnant women as 1.81% (95% CI: 1.45%‐2.17%). Of the responded 1059 municipalities, only 2.9% have assessed HBV status of children born to HBsAg‐positive mothers. Conclusion: This nationwide study demonstrated the epidemiology of HBV in women of childbearing age and the effectiveness of the prevention project for MTCT of HBV in Japan. Measures against foreigners are important issues in the future. To achieve and maintain the WHO hepatitis elimination goal, the role of local governments to identify and monitor HBV infections needs to be strengthened.