Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 May;14(5):283-8.
Epub 2012 May 30.

Seroepidemiology of HBV infection in South-East of iran; a population based study

M Salehi  1 , S M Alavian, S V Tabatabaei, Sh Izadi, E Sanei Moghaddam, S Amini Kafi-Abad, A Gharehbaghian, S Khosravi, H Abolghasemi
Affiliations

Seroepidemiology of HBV infection in South-East of iran; a population based study

M Salehi et al. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2012 May.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma affecting billions of people globally. Since information on its prevalence in general population is mandatory for formulating effective policies, this population based serological survey was conducted in Sistan and Baluchistan, where no previous epidemiological data were available.

Methods: Using random cluster sampling 3989 healthy subjects were selected from 9 districts of Sistan and Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran. The subjects' age ranged from 6 to 65 years old. Serum samples were tested for HBcAb, HBsAg. Screening tests were carried out by the third generation of ELISA. Various risk factors were recorded and multivariate analysis was performed.

Results: The prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAb in Sistan and Baluchistan was 3.38% (95% CI 2.85; 3.98) and 23.58% (95% CI 22.29; 24.93) respectively. We found 8 cases of positive anti-HDV antibody. Predictors of HBsAg or HBcAb in multivariate analysis were age, marital status and addiction.

Conclusion: The rate of HBV infection in Sistan and Baluchistan was higher than other parts of Iran. Approximately 25% of general population in this province had previous exposure to HBV and 3% were HBsAg carriers. Intrafamilial and addiction were major routes of HBV transmission in this province.

Keywords: Epidemiology; HBV; Hepatitis; Iran.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Geographical distribution of HBcAb and HBsAg seropositivity in various districts of Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Univariate analysis.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Multivariate analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Farzadegan H, Shamszad M, Noori-Arya K. Epidemiology of viral hepatitis among Iranian population--a viral marker study. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1980;9:144–8. - PubMed
    1. Alavian SM, Fallahian F, Lankarani KB. The Changing Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis B in Iran. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2007;16:403–6. - PubMed
    1. Bagheri Lankarani K, Saberi Froozi M, Nabipoor I, Fattahi F, Sarafrazyazdi M, Malekzadeh R. Reassesment of the role of hepatitis B and C viruses in southern Iran. Iran J Med Sci. 1999;24:117–21.
    1. Shamszad M, Farzadegan H. Related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Iran. J Iran Med Council. 1982;8:228.
    1. Malekzadeh R, Khatibian M, Rezvan H. Viral hepatitis in the world and Iran. J Iran Med Council. 1997;15:183–200.

LinkOut - more resources