A seroepidemiological survey of viral hepatitis in the Yemen Arab Republic.
During February 1988 a seroepidemiological survey of hepatitis A, B and D was performed in the Yemen Arab Republic. 879 sera were collected from 4 different areas; Sanaa, Hajja, Hodeidah and Taiz. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 12.7% (112/879) and some marker of hepatitis B infection was found in 45.5% (399/879) of study subjects. Only 2 (1.8%) of the 112 HBsAg positives were positive for antibody to delta hepatitis, and 9.7% (9/93) were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Univariate analysis showed age, sex, qat chewing, blood transfusion, surgery and a past history of jaundice to be associated with hepatitis B infection. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis only, age (odds ratios 1.37 for HBsAg carriers and 1.51 for seropositives), a past history of jaundice (odds ratio 1.42), and combined history of blood transfusion and surgery (odds ratio 2.76) were independent predictors of infection. Hepatitis B appears to be a major health concern in the Yemen Arab Republic.
Scott
D A
DA
US Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cairo, Egypt.
Burans
J P
JP
al-Ouzeib
H D
HD
Arunkumar
B K
BK
al-Fadeel
M
M
Nigad
Y R
YR
al-Hadad
A
A
Elyazeed
R R
RR
Hyams
K C
KC
Woody
J N
JN
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens