title: Viral hepatitis markers in Djibouti: an epidemiological survey.
abstract: A serosurvey involving 656 individuals revealed that hepatitis A infection was virtually universal in Djibouti in 1987, and more than half of the people investigated had serum markers of hepatitis B infection. The rate of chronic HBsAg carriers was 7.3% and was higher for males than for females. Both HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity rates were directly related to increasing age. No uniform mechanism could be found to account for transmission of the hepatitis B virus, and no correlation was noted between HBV-marker status and sexual promiscuity or the classic blood exposure risks. However, a significant association existed between the abuse of khat and the chronic HBsAg carrier state.
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No 3, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abbatte
authors.lastname: Said-Salah
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wassef
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Woody
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G