title: Regional and ethnic aspects of viral hepatitis B among pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in districts of Eastern Slovakia with a diverse prevalence of Roma population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall 59,279 serum samples from 9 regional departments of clinical microbiology from Eastern Slovakia were collected in the period from January 2008 till December 2009 and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of HBsAg positive samples overall and during pregnancy was 1.74% and 2.12%, respectively. Comparing districts with higher (> 5%) and lower (< 5%) Roma population, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of HBsAg positive samples overall (1.95% vs.1.62%). However, in the subgroup of pregnant women the prevalence of HBsAg positive samples (2.72% vs. 0.95%) differs significantly (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in Eastern Slovakia did not rapidly exceed the estimated nationwide prevalence. However, in districts with higher Roma population the expected higher prevalence of HBV infection was confirmed. This indicates the need to pay special attention to the prevention of hepatitis B in these districts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Medical Faculty, PJ Safárik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Pavol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kristian
authors.forename: Zuzana Dankulincová
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Veselská
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Paralicová
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jarcuska
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Virág
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valková
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schréter
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology*; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens