Prevalence of hepatitis b virus markers in a random sample of women from göteborg, Sweden

Abstract

The prevalence of the hepatitis B markers HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs was studied in 540 women from a randomised sample of women representative of the total population of women in Göteborg, Sweden at the ages of 26, 38 and 50 years. The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was 5.9% No signifcant differences were found between the women with hepatitis B markers and the total population concerning education, place of residence during childhood, history of admission to hospital, surgery or blood transfusion, abuse of drugs or alcohol, lie-time number of sexual partners or liver function tests. Only 8 of 37 (22% women with hepatitis B markers had a history of jaundice. We conclude that psychological factors had no strong influence on the prevalence of hepatitis B in Swedish women in general. © 1989 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.