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Prenatal screening for hepatitis B surface antigen. Is universal screening necessary?
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.
Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Universal prenatal screening for hepatitis B in Canada may not be necessary outside urban centers. A study found low hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity rates in Barrie, Ontario, suggesting selective screening may be effective.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Universal prenatal screening for hepatitis B (HepB) is a recommended practice in Canada.
- The effectiveness and necessity of universal screening in non-urban settings require evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among women delivering in a non-urban Canadian hospital.
- To evaluate the potential utility of selective screening strategies in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of women delivering at Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, Ontario.
- Analysis of HBsAg screening results for 716 women out of 1216 deliveries.
Main Results:
- Only two (0.28%) of the 716 women with available screening results were HBsAg positive.
- Both positive cases were identified within a high-risk group.
Conclusions:
- The low prevalence of HBsAg in this non-urban cohort suggests universal screening may be less critical than in urban settings.
- Physicians should employ careful patient questioning to identify and test high-risk individuals if selective screening is implemented.