Prevalence study of different hepatitis markers among pregnant Albanian refugees in Greece
- 1 June 1996
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Journal of Epidemiology
- Vol. 12 (3), 297-301
- https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00145420
Abstract
Aim of the study was to record the prevalence of the various types of viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B, in pregnant Albanian refugees in Greece. The study comprised 500 pregnant refugees of mean age 25:1 ± 4,6 years. In Albania, all women had lived in overcrowded houses and had been exposed to non throw-away needles and syringes. Various indices for all hepatitis types were determined. The prevalence of HBsAg was 13.4%, of anti-HBs 53%, of total anti-HBc 70.8%, of anti-HBc IgM 0.4%, of HBeAg 1.2%, of anti-HBe 58.6%, of anti-HAV 96.2%, of anti-HAV IgM 1%, of anti-HDV 0.4%, of anti-HCV 0.6% and of anti-HEV 2%. HBeAg was found positive in 7.5% of HBsAg carriers. Prevalence of hepatitis B markers, as determined by HBsAg and/or anti-HBs and/or total anti-HBc was significantly higher in those with a history of previous hospitalization in Albania (p = 0.01) and those with previous history of hepatitis (p = 0.02). The high prevalence of hepatitis B markers in pregnant Albanian refugees proves that HBV infection is highly endemic in Albania and the possibility of perinatal transmission to the offsprings urges for HBV vaccination programmes. On the other hand improvements in the socioeconomic conditions and the sanitation system in Albania is anticipated to reduce the incidence of HAV and HBV infections.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Efficacy of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin for Prevention of Perinatal Transmission of the Hepatitis B Virus Carrier State: Final Report of a Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialHepatology, 2007
- Is vaccination against hepatitis b efficient? A review of world literatureHealth Economics, 1994
- Serologic identification of hepatitis E virus infections in epidemic and endemic settingsJournal of Medical Virology, 1992
- Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Children Born in the United States to Southeast Asian RefugeesNew England Journal of Medicine, 1989
- Serum HBsAg, HBeAg, anti‐HBe, and hepatitis B viral DNA in asymptomatic carriers in TaiwanJournal of Medical Virology, 1986
- Type A Viral HepatitisNew England Journal of Medicine, 1985
- The Delta AgentHepatology, 1983
- Hepatitis B infection in vietnamese familiesJournal of Medical Virology, 1982
- Hepatitis B among Indochinese refugees in Great BritainPostgraduate Medical Journal, 1982
- HBeAg and anti‐hbe detection by radioimmunoassay: Correlation with vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus in TaiwanJournal of Medical Virology, 1979