Date: January 11, 2023
The Indonesian government will pilot the administration of HBV antivirals to pregnant women to prevent transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to child.
Hepatitis B transmission from infected mothers to children is one of the causes of the high prevalence of hepatitis B in Indonesia. Based on 2013 Basic Health Research data, the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBsAg) in is 7.1% in the Indonesian general population.
Babies infected with the hepatitis B virus have a risk of 90% – 95% to develop chronic hepatitis B. Therefore, vertical or parent-to-child transmission contributes to around 50% of the global hepatitis B disease burden.
Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said additional efforts were needed to prevent transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to child in addition to efforts to immunize hepatitis B given to newborns.
“One of these additional efforts is through the use of the antiviral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate which has proven safety and effectiveness”,
Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin
In order to use the antiviral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in pregnant women with hepatitis B, a pilot activity will be carried out at hospitals and health centers (Puskesmas) in several provinces and districts/cities.
Through the Decree of the Minister of Health number HK.01.07/MENKES/15/2023 concerning Pilot Administration of Antivirals to Pregnant Women to Prevent Hepatitis B Virus Transmission from Mother to Child, a pilot administration of antivirals to pregnant women was carried out by giving the antiviral drug Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) to pregnant women with positive HBsAg, with virus levels equal to or more than 200,000 IU/mL (5.3 log10 IU/mL), or with positive Hepatitis B e-Antigen (HBeAg). The TDF will be administered during the third trimester of pregnancy up to 1 (one) month after delivery.
Administration of the antiviral drug Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate to pregnant women with positive HBsAg can be done by trained general practitioners at first-level health facilities or internal medicine specialists at advanced referral health facilities, and carried out by a work team determined by the leadership at the health care facility.
Pilots of HBV antiviral administration to pregnant women will be carried out from 2022 to 2023 in hospitals and health centers in 6 provinces and 10 districts/cities.
The list of health facilities conducting pilot HBV antiviral administration to pregnant women are:
- West Java: Bandung City Hospital and Bandung City Arcamanik Health Center;
- DKI Jakarta: Cengkareng Health Center and Taman Sari Hospital, West Jakarta; Tanah Abang Health Center and Kemayoran Hospital, Central Jakarta; Kebayoran Lama Health Center and Tebet Hospital, South Jakarta; Cakung Health Center and Kramat Jati Hospital, East Jakarta; Tanjung Priok Health Center and North Jakarta Koja Hospital;
- South Sulawesi: Sudiang Raya Community Health Center and Laburan Baji Hospital, Makassar City;
- East Java: Sememi Health Center, Wonokusumo Health Center, dr. Mohamad Soewandhie, dr. Soetomo City of Surabaya;
- Lampung: Hj. Abdul Moeloek, the Way Kandis Health Center, and the Gedong Air Health Center in Bandar City;
- South Kalimantan: Pekauman Community Health Center, Banjarmasin City.
Peduli Hati Bangsa Foundation, which was involved in several discussions regarding this pilot, also monitored and supported through the provision of information and training to communities affected by the hepatitis virus in Indonesia. We support the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to always improve the health of the Indonesian people.
#HepCan’tWait
#EliminateHepatitisB