Authors : Farnaz Sahaf , Asghar Tanomand Hassan Montazam and Ali Asgar Sany
Abstract: High prevalence rates of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and HIV infections among people have been reported worldwide. However, less information on HCV (HBV) and HIV infections and risk factors among pregnant women in Iran is available. HIV co-infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) or/and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a growing public health concern. Also these viruses share the ways of transmission and many people are co-infected or even have the 3 infections. Thus, we conducted a research to identify the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV in pregnant women in Malekan city, Iran. A total of 680 blood samples of pregnant women in the first trimester were collected at the central clinical lab from March 2005 to February 2006. Blood samples were estimated for HBsAg, HBcAb, HCVAb and HIVAb by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Prevalence rate of HBsAg was 2.5%; HBcAb 1.25% and HCV Ab 0.98 %, .None was positive for Anti-HIV,2. Co -infection for HBsAg-HCVAb were seen in three cases (0.49%). The authors recommend that all specimens should be treated as potentially infectious and all persons must be tested before marriage and pregnancy time for prevention of infections in the future.
Farnaz Sahaf , Asghar Tanomand Hassan Montazam and Ali Asgar Sany , 2007. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV and Co-Infections among Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Study in 2006 at Malekan City, Iran . Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 1: 138-141.