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Peer-reviewedCC BYScientific Reports

Incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

  • Gadissa Gutema1
  • Habteyes Hailu Tola2
  • Dereje Leta1
  • Birra Bejiga1
  • Chala Besha1
  • Mehari Meles1
  • Dereje Bekele3
  • Feyissa Challa1
  • Gemechu Tadesse1
  • Nega Berhe4
  • Catherine Freeland5
  • Hassen Mamo3
5 affiliations
  1. 1Ethiopian Public Health Institute
  2. 2College of Health Sciences, Salale University
  3. 3Department of Microbial Sciences and Genetics, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University
  4. 4Addis Ababa University, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Health Research
  5. 5Hepatitis B Foundation
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Abstract

Viral hepatitis is a significant global public health challenge. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is accountable for the majority of the challenges. The main transmission mode of HBV in highly endemic countries is perinatal. However, there is limited evidence on the incidence of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and its associated factors in Ethiopia impacting the implementation of tailored control interventions. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the incidence of MTCT of HBV and its associated factors. A prospective observational cohort study was conducted among 110 infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers from February 2023 to February 2024 in selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at birth and at 9 months post-delivery. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of mother-infant pairs, and laboratory investigations were assessed to determine the incidence of MTCT and associated factors. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize infant characteristics. Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was employed to identify factors associated with MTCT of HBV. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The mean age of the mothers was 28 ± 4.9 years. Of the 110 mothers positive for HBsAg, 10(9.1%) were positive for HBeAg and 11(10.1%) had > 200,000 IU/mL HBV DNA concentration. The incidence of MTCT of HBV was 9(8.2%) (95% CI: 4.0–15.4%). Infants who received only pentavalent vaccination starting at 6 weeks post-delivery were at risk to MTCT of HBV than infants received HepB-BD± HBIG vaccine (P = 0.006). Maternal HBV viral load > 200,000 IU/mL (P < 0.035), maternal HBeAg positivity (P = 0.020), and premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.027) were significantly associated with MTCT. A considerable number of infants acquired HBV infection from their mothers. Timely universal HepB-BD vaccination, routine maternal HBV viral load monitoring and timely antiretroviral treatment for mothers with HBV positive HBeAg and/or DNA > 200,000 IU/mL are essential to reduce the incidence of MTCT of HBV.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gutema2026incidence,
  title = {{Incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study}},
  author = {Gadissa Gutema and Habteyes Hailu Tola and Dereje Leta and Birra Bejiga and Chala Besha and Mehari Meles and Dereje Bekele and Feyissa Challa and Gemechu Tadesse and Nega Berhe and Catherine Freeland and Hassen Mamo},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-64613-6},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-64613-6},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study
AU  - Gadissa Gutema
AU  - Habteyes Hailu Tola
AU  - Dereje Leta
AU  - Birra Bejiga
AU  - Chala Besha
AU  - Mehari Meles
AU  - Dereje Bekele
AU  - Feyissa Challa
AU  - Gemechu Tadesse
AU  - Nega Berhe
AU  - Catherine Freeland
AU  - Hassen Mamo
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-64613-6
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-64613-6
AB  - Viral hepatitis is a significant global public health challenge. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is accountable for the majority of the challenges. The main transmission mode of HBV in highly endemic countries is perinatal. However, there is limited evidence on the incidence of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and its associated factors in Ethiopia impacting the implementation of tailored control interventions. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the incidence of MTCT of HBV and its associated factors. A prospective observational cohort study was conducted among 110 infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers from February 2023 to February 2024 in selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at birth and at 9 months post-delivery. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of mother-infant pairs, and laboratory investigations were assessed to determine the incidence of MTCT and associated factors. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize infant characteristics. Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was employed to identify factors associated with MTCT of HBV. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The mean age of the mothers was 28 ± 4.9 years. Of the 110 mothers positive for HBsAg, 10(9.1%) were positive for HBeAg and 11(10.1%) had > 200,000 IU/mL HBV DNA concentration. The incidence of MTCT of HBV was 9(8.2%) (95% CI: 4.0–15.4%). Infants who received only pentavalent vaccination starting at 6 weeks post-delivery were at risk to MTCT of HBV than infants received HepB-BD± HBIG vaccine (P = 0.006). Maternal HBV viral load > 200,000 IU/mL (P < 0.035), maternal HBeAg positivity (P = 0.020), and premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.027) were significantly associated with MTCT. A considerable number of infants acquired HBV infection from their mothers. Timely universal HepB-BD vaccination, routine maternal HBV viral load monitoring and timely antiretroviral treatment for mothers with HBV positive HBeAg and/or DNA > 200,000 IU/mL are essential to reduce the incidence of MTCT of HBV.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -