Swati Dhirajlal Jethava1, Hitesh Katilal Shingala2, Mala Sinha3
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to assess the extent of seropositivity of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and HIV in pregnant women at tertiary care hospitals in Gujarat from December 2015 to June 2016 and to re-evaluate the need for routine antenatal care screening for these infections among obstetric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients were enrolled for study after taking informed consent. All samples were tested to detect HbsAg by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), anti-HCV by ELISA, samples were also tested for antibodies to Treponema pallidum by Rapid Plasma Regain (RPR), samples were tested for antibodies to HIV by three different methods as per strategy III of the National AIDS Control Organisation by using different systems of testing to establish a diagnosis of HIV.
RESULTS
Total 1000 samples were tested. Out of this, seropositivity of hepatitis B was (0.6%), hepatitis C was (0.2%), syphilis was (0.0%) and HIV was 0.1%. Out of the 1000 samples, no coinfection was found between hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis or HIV.
CONCLUSION
This study can help the health professionals to efficiently treat antenatal patients. Early diagnosis of disease in antenatal period is helpful for proper management and initiation of treatment to prevent transmission to newborn
