title: Hepatitis B seroprevalence and risk factors in adult population of chaharmahal and bakhtiari province in 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus is one of the important viral causes of liver inflammation with high worldwide prevalence and important hepatic and extra hepatic complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this descriptive, analytical, population-based study, 3000 participants older than 15 years were enrolled according to the clustering method. After obtaining written informed consent and taking required blood samples, we gathered data on demographic status and probable transmission routes of disease using questionnaire between 2012 and 2013. The data was analyzed using SPSS software (descriptive parameters and chi-square). P value below 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 38.4 ± 16.3. The seroprevalence rate of hepatitis B was found to be 1.3% (95% CI, 0.95%-1.81%). Prevalence of HBeAg among HBsAg positive participants was 2.5% (only 1 of 40). Seroprevalence was higher in male group (2.5 times higher than women), age group of over 55 years, farmers, and non-public occupations. Positive seroprevalence was associated with a history of renal disease, familial transmission, transfusion, surgery in hospital, circumcision, contact with hepatitis B infected individuals, imprisonment, intravenous (IV) drug abuse, and smoking (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the highest odds ratio (OR) was obtained for history of renal disease (OR = 7.64: 3.01-18.4), followed by imprisonment (OR = 5.4: 1.86 -15.7) and IV drug abuse (OR = 5.68: 1.3-24.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province could be categorized as a low endemic region for hepatitis B infection, with a seroprevalence similar to that in other provinces of western Iran. Vaccination seems to influence its decrease, especially in adolescents and youth. More surveillance and attention to risk factors are suggested to identify high-risk groups and to implement vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moezzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imani
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Central Disease Control Unit, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pourheidar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Forouzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karimi
keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies