title: Weighted analysis of prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B infection among antenatal mothers in Ipoh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several strategies have been developed to reduce hepatitis B infections. These include antenatal screening, universal immunisation of newborns and immunoglobulin therapy for babies who are at risk. Antenatal screening for hepatitis B is not routinely performed, but all newborns in Malaysia are immunised against hepatitis B. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B and the factors associated with it among antenatal mothers in Ipoh. This information is useful in decision-making for future hepatitis B screening programmes for antenatal mothers, allowing for immunoglobulin therapies for newborns if their mother's hepatitis B virus (HBV) status is known.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 1,105 antenatal mothers who attended government health clinics in Ipoh was conducted between July 2008 and October 2008. The participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire, and their hepatitis B surface antigen status was ascertained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7,172 registered births and 97 HBV carriers were included in the weighted analysis. It revealed that none of the high-risk behaviours explored was significantly associated with HBV infection. Multivariate analysis showed age 35 years and above, multigravida (having two or more pregnancies), a positive history of blood transfusion and a family history of HBV to be significant factors associated with HBV infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The weighted prevalence of HBV infection among antenatal mothers in Ipoh was 1.35 percent. A risk-based screening programme related to past medical and family history may be useful since these two factors are associated with HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia. khadijah@ppukm.ukm.my
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shamsuddin
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Marmuji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008296:Malaysia; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins