Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody, and risk behaviors in married couples, a bordered province of western Thailand

authors:

avatar P Luksamijarulkul 1 , * , avatar P Piroonamornpun 2 , avatar SK Triamchaisri 3

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, phpls@mahidol.ac.th, Thailand
Tropical Medicine Hospital, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 4; 273-277
article type: Research Article
received: April 8, 2010
accepted: November 28, 2010

how to cite: Luksamijarulkul P, Piroonamornpun P, Triamchaisri S. Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody, and risk behaviors in married couples, a bordered province of western Thailand. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(4): 273-277. 

Abstract

Background: Married couples constitute a target group for reducing the risk of infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Objectives: This study attempted to assess HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV-positive rates, and risk behaviors among married couples in a bordered province of western Thailand.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 114 married couples aged 15-44 years was performed. Approximately 25-30 married couples were randomly selected from 4 districts in a province of western Thailand. All study participants who participated voluntarily were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Their blood specimens were collected to screen for HBV seromarkers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc) and anti-HCV.
Results: Approximately 21.1% of husbands and 2.6% of wives had a history of extramarital sex without using a condom; 18.4% of husbands and 4.4% of wives had tattoos; and 18.4% and 3.5%, respectively, consumed alcohol regularly. Additionally, 4.4% of husbands and 2.6% of wives had a history of sexual contact before marriage. In the serological study, 10.5% of husbands and 5.3% of wives were HBsAg-positive, and 1.8% of husbands and 0.9% of wives were anti-HCV-positive. Among HBsAg-positive subjects, 15/18 had spouses who were positive for any HBV marker, and 1 had a spouse who was HBsAg- and anti-HBc positive. Three participants were positive for anti-HCV (2 males and 1 female). One anti-HCV-positive male had a history of regular alcohol consumption and extramarital sex without a condom, and another had a history of intravenous drug use. The anti-HCV-positive female had a history of sexual contact before marriage.
Conclusions: This study found high percentages of risk behaviors and HBsAg positivity among married couples in a bordered province of western Thailand, especially in husbands. These findings support the evidence of HCV transmission via sexual contact and intravenous drug use.
Keywords: HCV antibodies; Risk behaviors; Sex; Spouses

  • Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
    Due to high percentages of risk behaviors and HBsAg positivity among married couples in a bordered province of western Thailand, an integrated intervention of life skill education, a 100% condom use policy and HBV vaccination should be implemented in premarital counseling clinics in this group.
  • Please cite this paper as:
    Luksamijarulkul P, Piroonamornpun P, Triamchaisri SK. Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody and risk behaviors in married couples, a bordered province of western Thailand. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(4):273-277.

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