Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Pregnant Women in Zahedan, Iran

authors:

avatar Batool Sharifi Mood 1 , * , avatar Fatemeh Kaykhah 2 , avatar Esmaeel Sanei Moghaddam 2 , avatar Masoud Salehi 2 , avatar Hamid Reza Kouhpayeh 2 , avatar Roya Alavi Naini 2 , avatar Malihe Metanat 2 , avatar Sohila Khosravi 2 , avatar Rahimeh Khademi 2

Department of Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, batoolsharifi@yahoo.com, Sistan va Baloochestan, IR.Iran
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Sistan va Baloochestan, IR.Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.4, issue 8; 161-163
article type: Research Article

How To Cite Mood B, Kaykhah F, Moghaddam E, Salehi M, Kouhpayeh H, et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Pregnant Women in Zahedan, Iran. Hepat Mon. 2004;4(8): 161-163. 

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus is one of the most common chronic infections in the world. Over half of the world population has been exposed to this virus. It is estimated that 3% of Iranian population are chronic carriers.
Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women in Zahedan, Iran.
Method: In this cross-sectional study in a period of one month in Zahedan, total cases of 200 pregnant women were enrolled in our study. Sera obtained from these pregnant women were evaluated for HBsAg by ELISA method.
Result: Our data showed that 6.5% of the pregnant women had a positive test for HBsAg. Conclusion: It seems that hepatitis B infection is highly endemic at least in pregnant women in Zahedan. On the basis of these epidemiologic data, screening of all pregnant women is necessary.

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