title: Hepatitis B virus sero-markers, hepatitis C virus antibody and risk behaviors among middle age and older Thai males.
abstract: A cross-sectional study of 1069 Thai males over 40 years of age was carried out to assess risk behaviors towards hepatitis B and C. All studied participants who voluntarily participated and signed informed consents were interviewed. One hundred eighty-seven volunteers participated in blood screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero-markers and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The results reveal of 1069 subjects, 21.3% had tattoos, 18.4% had a history of regular alcohol consumption (drinking alcohol > or =5 days/week), and 16.4% had a history of extramarital sex without using condoms during the previous year. Results from blood screening showed 93.1% were positive for HBV sero-markers, 4.3% had a positive HBsAg, 58.8% had a positive anti-HBs, and 0.5% had a positive anti-HCV antibody. Nine subjects were positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV, most (7/9) had at least one risk behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. luksamijarulkul@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pipat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luksamijarulkul
authors.forename: Wanpen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kaepan
authors.forename: Surinthorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klamphakorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies