title: Prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs among delivering women.
abstract: A survey of 2,500 delivering women revealed a 7.6% incidence of past infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (HBsAg or anti-HBs). Only 5.9% of the anti-HBs-positive mothers had a possible history of parenteral exposure to hepatitis B and none of the 55 HBsAg carriers had such a history. The findings suggest that HBV is endemic and that it is probably spread in part by nonparenteral means. The high rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs point to the possible preventive value of routine screenings for this system among pregnant women.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D012383:Romania
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens