Principle investigators: Dr Guingané Nanelin Alice

Locations: University Teaching Hospital Bogodogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Description: We have regular consultations, upper and lower digestive endoscopies, fibroscan and hospitalisation. On research, in 2014 we initiated a cohort of pregnant women infected with the hepatitis B virus to prevent mother-to-child transmission through treatment of mothers and vaccination at birth.

The screening programme included the following four steps: (i) training on HBV counselling for health-care workers in primary-care services; (ii) counselling and offer of HBsAg screening for pregnant women during the first antenatal consultation in the primary-care centre; (iii) simplified referral process of women testing positive for HBsAg to the hepato-gastroenterology department of the referral hospital; and (iv) post-test counselling of HBsAg-positive women at the referral hospital.

• More than 1000 women were included and followed. Fifty nine women (9.5%) were indicated for treatment and fifty-four (91.5%) of these were treated. Approximately 90% of newborns were vaccinated at birth.

• We then initiated intra-family screening using pregnant women as index cases and we have now a cohort of pregnant women and children, as well as a cohort of infected adults who are regularly monitored.

• The prenatal consultation is a crucial moment for family screening for HBV and linkage to care. However, sharing of HBV status within couples is essential to achieve this. Involving men improves the chances of success of PMTCT actions and specific screening strategies targeting spouses are still needed.