Pregnant women infected with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) pose a risk for infecting their newborn infants by vertical transmission. Especially infants born to mothers positive for HBsAg are at risk for peripartal transmission of hepatitis B infection. It is aimed to investigate the exposure status of pregnant women to hepatitis B and C viruses, immunization and long-term follow-up of newborn infants born to HBV carrier mothers. We studied 760 women aged 16-40 years for HBV infection and tested for HBsAg, antiHBc, HBeAg, antiHBe, HBV DNA. HCV infection was investigated in 540 of these women with anti HCV. The prevalance of HBsAg was found to be 4.2 % (2/760); five of them (9.3%) were HBeAg positive and anti HCV positivity was found to be 0.37%. None of the HBV carriers were found to be infected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). All newborns born to HBsAg carrier mothers received HBV vaccine and hepatitis B hyperimmunoglobulin postpartum within 6 hours; vaccination schedule was continued as 0-1-2-12 months of life. HBV carrier mothers and their babies were followed for six years. All infants except one (who has been thougtht to had intrauterine HBV infection) had protective anti HBs levels. It is suggested that all pregnant women should be tested for HBsAg for the newborns to be immediately immunized against HBV. HCV prevalance is low in our region, however HCV test might be meaningful for pregnant women under risk such as transfusion, HIV positivity and hemodialysis.