title: Hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence in pregnant women: A cross-sectional survey in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from infected mothers to their neonates is one of the most important routes of infection. The exact prevalence rate of HBV in Iranian pregnant mothers is not well known but based on different studies it is estimated between 0.35% and 6.5%. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant women of selected provinces in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  At this cross-sectional study, seven provinces supposed to be of high and low prevalence of hepatitis B in the general population selected. Multistage sampling was used to enroll 5261 parturient women who attended the target provinces birth facilities, during January to March of 2011, were recruited to study. To determine the statistically significant mean and proportion differences, t-test and χ (2) test were used, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 1.2% was positive HBsAg of which 11% of them were hepatitis B e-antigen positive as well. The eastern and north eastern provinces were considerably higher in HBsAg seropositivity than the west and northwest of the country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the considerable prevalence of hepatitis B in pregnant women, screening all pregnant women prioritizing the eastern and north-eastern provinces is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoghli
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mahmood
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Goodarz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolifarhood
authors.affiliation: Director in General, Center for Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goya
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis, Center for Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran.
authors.forename: Roshanak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Namazi
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Razi Science Researchers Institute, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallahnezhad
authors.affiliation: Research Expert, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohajeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nouraldin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mousavinasab
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rahim Sorouri
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zanjani
authors.affiliation: Center for Diseases Control, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Saeini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mousavi Teaching Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health services, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalilvand
keywords: Hepatitis B; Iran; pregnant women; prevalence