title: The prevalence of hepatitis B infection in a rural South African HIV clinic.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 1 765 HIV-positive patients in rural Eastern Cape was 7.1%. This is lower than the previously reported rural prevalence and is similar to urban prevalence. Male sex and baseline alanine aminotransferease (ALT) were significant predictors of HBV status. Most HBV-positive patients had normal baseline ALT, making ALT an insensitive screening test for HBV status.
authors.affiliation: Madwaleni Hospital, Eastern Cape. tomboyles@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tom H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Boyles
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase