Mother-to-child Transmission of HBV in China

In order to evaluate the feasibility of eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by 2030, a multi-center, prospective cohorts study was conducted to investigate MTCT of HBV in China.

A prospective, multicenter study of pregnant women with HBV infection was conducted from July 2015 up to now in a real world setting in the Shield Project stage Ⅱ. Inclusion criteria was any pregnant women with chronic HBV infection. Pregnant women were excluded if they had a positive serologic test for human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus or any co-morbidity that might reduce compliance or if they were unable or unwilling to use the mobile health application-Shield APP. Enrolled mothers and infants were prospectively followed until infant post-vaccination serologic testing (PVST) was performed at 7-12 months of age. Demographic data, antiviral treatment history, pregnancy and labour history, co-morbidity, HBV serologic marker tests, HBV DNA tests, liver function tests, mode of delivery, neonatal characteristics (height, weight, head circumference, Apgar score and any major birth defect), breastfeeding and PVST for infants at 7-12 months of age were collected. A mobile health application called "SHIELD" was developed and used in the Shield Project stage Ⅱ to collect data and provide support for communication between mothers and their doctors. All laboratory test reports, questionnaires and other relevant information was uploaded into SHIELD. Participants could consult with their doctors via SHIELD during the follow-up.