Hepatitis B Infection in Pregnant Women in Taiwan
Author Information
Author(s): Lin Ching-Chiang, Hsieh Hsiu-Shu, Huang Yu-Jie, Huang Yeou-Lih, Ku Ming-Kun, Hung Hsin-Chia
Primary Institution: Fooyin University Hospital
Hypothesis
How does the hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan affect the infection rates among pregnant women from Taiwan compared to those from other Southeast Asian countries?
Conclusion
The hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan has effectively reduced infection rates among pregnant women, but the increasing number of pregnant women from Southeast Asian countries without similar vaccination programs may lessen this positive impact.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of hepatitis B among Taiwanese women was 15.5%, compared to 8.9% among Southeast Asian women.
- The vaccination program has reduced the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in vaccinated populations.
- Women born after the vaccination program had significantly lower HBsAg positive rates.
Takeaway
This study shows that women in Taiwan who got vaccinated against hepatitis B have lower infection rates than women from other Southeast Asian countries who didn't get vaccinated.
Methodology
Data was collected from 11,745 pregnant women receiving prenatal examinations, with blood samples tested for hepatitis B antigens.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of vaccination experience and the possibility of infection after moving to Taiwan.
Limitations
The study did not collect individual vaccination histories or test for antibodies, which limits direct analysis of vaccination efficacy.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 10,327 women from Taiwan and 1,418 from five Southeast Asian countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Confidence Interval
1.67–91.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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