title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women in Varna Region, Bulgaria.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among pregnant women in Varna Region, Bulgaria. During the period 2009-2013, an average prevalence of 2.26% (95%CI 1.75, 2.91) was measured in a total number of 2,700 samples. Analysis demonstrated that rural residence and minority ethnic origin are important risk factors for hepatitis B infection among pregnant women with hazard ratios of 2.40 (95%CI 1.46, 3.94), and 2.43 (95%CI 1.46, 4.05) when compared with urban residence and ethnic majority origin, respectively. J. Med. Virol. 88:2012-2015, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Medical University Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Gabriela Staneva
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tsankova
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Medical University Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Tsvetelina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kostadinova
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Medical University Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Tatina Todorova
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Todorova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: hepatitis B surface antigen; pregnancy; seroepidemiologic studies