The prevalence of hepatitis B antigen-positivity in the general population of Mashhad, Iran

authors:

avatar Farhad Fathimoghaddam 1 , avatar Mohammad Reza Hedayati Moghaddam 2 , * , avatar Hamid Reza Bidkhori 1 , avatar Sanaz Ahmadi 1 , avatar Hamid Reza Sima 1

Research Center for HIV/AIDS, HTLV and Viral Hepatitis, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, IR Iran
+985118810177@hepatmon.com, Mashhad
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 5; 346-350
article type: Research Article
received: August 11, 2010
accepted: November 24, 2010

how to cite: Fathimoghaddam F, Hedayati Moghaddam M R, Bidkhori H R, Ahmadi S, Sima H R. The prevalence of hepatitis B antigen-positivity in the general population of Mashhad, Iran. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(5): 346-350. 

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health problem throughout the world.
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity in the general population of Mashhad, northeast of Iran.
Patients and Methods: One thousand six hundred fifty-two healthy individuals aged 1 to 90 (Mean; 29.1 ± 18.5) from all 12 municipalities of Mashad were selected randomly by multistage cluster sampling. Informed consent was obtained, and demographics and medical histories were collected. Twice-reactive samples were considered HBsAg-positive by ELISA. Chi-square test and logistic regression were applied to analyze the factors related to HBsAg positivity using SPSS 16.0.
Results: The overall prevalence of HBsAg positivity was 1.39% (95% CI, 0.91% to 2.12%); 2.0% and 0.89% among men and women, respectively (p = 0.054). Infection was more prevalent in older (p = 0.019) and married persons (p = 0.001), Afghanis (p = 0.046), and those with a history of traditional cupping (p = 0.005). There was no association between HBV infection and gender; literacy; income; employment; family size; or history of blood transfusion, dental procedure, surgery, hospitalization, or tattooing. By logistic regression analysis, age was the only variable that had a significant association with infection (p = 0.026).
Conclusion: It seems that the prevalence of HBV infection in Mashhad is slightly lower than that of the nation.

  •  Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
    Due to major doubts in understanding the best strategy for differentiating between HBeAg negative and inactive carriers, this diagnostic study is recommended to all clinicians involved in treatment of patients with HBV infection. 
  • Please cite this paper as:
    Fathimoghaddam F, Hedayati-Moghaddam MR, Bidkhori HR, Ahmadi S, Sima HR. The prevalence of hepatitis B antigen-positivity in the general population of Mashhad, Iran. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(5):346-350.

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