ASSOCIATION OF OBSTETRIC HISTORY WITH ANTI-HEV SEROPOSITIVITY IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the relationship between anti-HEV seropositivity (IgG and IgM) and obstetric history among pregnant women in the Republic of Moldova, in order to identify potential factors associated with previous exposure or recent hepatitis E virus infection.

Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 256 pregnant women in the Republic of Moldova. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were detected using ELISA. The association between HEV seropositivity and obstetric history (number of previous pregnancies, history of spontaneous abortions, complications in previous pregnancies, and preterm birth) was assessed using bivariate analyses with crude odds ratios (OR) and chi-square (χ²) or Fisher’s exact tests.

Results. No statistically significant associations were identified between obstetric history variables and anti-HEV IgG or IgM seropositivity (p > 0.05). Odds ratios were close to unity, and 95% confidence intervals included the reference value. No risk gradient according to parity was observed.

Conclusions. Obstetric history was not associated with anti-HEV seropositivity in the studied population, suggesting that obstetric history, when analyzed in isolation, does not appear to be a useful predictor of serological exposure or serologically detectable recent HEV infection among pregnant women.