title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B in the Gezira region of Sudan.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B infection in rural Sudan, 2 villages in the Gezira were surveyed. There were 851 subjects (age 1-89 years; mean age 24.6 years) of equal sex distribution, 408 from Khalawaat and 443 from Saleim. HBsAg was found in 18.7%, and seropositivity for any hepatitis marker (HBsAg, anti-HBs, or anti-HBc) was found in 63.9%. The prevalence of HBsAg was highest in subjects less than 5 years of age (32.3%). Seropositivity for any hepatitis marker increased from 48.4% in subjects less than 5 years to 88.5% in persons greater than or equal to 50 years of age. HBeAg was present in 70% of HBsAg-positive women of childbearing age. Residence in Khalawaat and parenteral therapy for malaria were found to be independent risk factors for HBsAg-positivity. Age, residence in Khalawaat, crowding, and having had a tattoo were predictive of seropositivity for any hepatitis marker. The reason for increased markers of hepatitis B in Khalawaat compared to Saleim was not apparent.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hyams
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: al-Arabi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: al-Tagani
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Messiter
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: al-Gaali
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003441:Crowding; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013397:Sudan; D013653:Tattooing
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens