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18 Nov 2022
The prevalence of HBV infection in pregnant women in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Project leader: Korri El Khobar
Level of education and university: PhD, The University of Sydney
Collaborating Organisations: Poltekkes Kementerian Kesehatan Kupang, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Project Location: The project will be performed in two main locations, Kampus BRIN Cibinong, Jawa Barat for sample analysis and sample sequencing analysis, while sample collection will be performed in Kupang, NTT. Project meetings and training workshops will be held in person at the beginning and the end of the project, and online during the project.
Activity Type: Academic research and research-related activities
Sector: Communicable Disease Prevention, Public Health, Education and Training
Project Rationale:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a health problem in Indonesia. As HBV is mostly transmitted vertically from infected mothers to their infants, the government has implemented a mandatory hepatitis B early screening program for pregnant mothers. However, the percentage of pregnant women who went for hepatitis B early screening in East Nusa Tenggara province was one of the lowest in Indonesia in 2020 (34.66% compared to national percentage of 51.37%; Ministry of Health of Indonesia, 2020). In addition, the percentage of HBV-infected pregnant women, based on HBsAg (HBV surface antigen) positivity, was the highest (4.9%) compared to the other provinces and the national rate of 1.7% (Ministry of Health of Indonesia, 2020). This low adherence to the hepatitis B early screening is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, where health resources are stretched thin and people are more reluctant to go to healthcare facilities. Therefore, to support the government program for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B triple elimination in pregnant women and to reach the WHO's recommendation for hepatitis B elimination by 2030, a comprehensive study on HBV prevalence in pregnant women in East Nusa Tenggara, especially in Kupang, is needed to fully identify the HBV infection burden in the population. Additionally, this project will provide the necessary seminars and training/workshops for our collaborators and students in Poltekkes Kupang so they can perform HBV molecular analysis onsite in Kupang.
Project Beneficiaries:
The main beneficiaries are the pregnant women and healthcare officials, and our research collaborators in Poltekkes Kupang and the students of Poltekkes Kupang, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
Priority Development Area:
Health Security
Link with Australian organisation:
Not available
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