title: High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in rural black adults in Mseleni, South Africa.
abstract: A community-based study in northern Natal/KwaZulu, South Africa, assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in rural Black adults. The prevalence of HBV carriers was 4.4 percent in women (N = 342) and 7.1 percent in men (N = 99). At least one marker of HBV infection was present in 81 percent of women and 86 percent of men. The relative risk (RR) of HBV marker positivity in women due to scarification, adjusted for the presence of pierced ears, was 1.37 (95% CI = 0.9, 2.1). Risk factors such as scarification and pierced earlobes need to be further investigated to assess their role in the transmission of the HBV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Natal, Faculty of Medicine, Durban, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abdool Karim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thejpal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D002921:Cicatrix; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens