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Prevalence of HBsAg in Employees of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Saghez in 1999 and 2000.

More than 350 milions people (5%) of world`s population, 300 thousands (1.4 to 6.5%) of Iranian population and 45 thousands (3%) of Kurdistan`s population are HBsAg positive. Health employees have greater risk to be contaminated with HBsAg because they are in direct contact with patients and contaminated objects. This study was performed to determine prevalence of HBsAg in employees of Imam Khomeini hospital of Saghez in 1999-2000. This was a descriptive study. Sample size was 270 persons. Data was collected by a questionaire including result of HBsAg test (performed by ELISA method), personal identifications, history of vaccination, blood transfusion and needle stick. Prervalence of HBsAg in our study was 2.6%. All of the positive HBsAg were married males that were not vaccinated. In younger age group (20-30 years old) and subjects with less than 1-10 years of service, pervalence of HBsAg was 14.2%. Fourty two point eight percent of HBsAg positives were servants. None of HBsAg positives had history of blood transfusion. History of needle stick was positive in 57.1% of HBsAg positives and in 38% of HBsAg negatives. All of family members of HBsAg positive persons were HBsAg negative. There was no significant association between history of blood transfusion or marriage with positivity of HBsAg. Results of this study demonstrate that prevalence of HBsAg in our sample agrees with the country`s and the province`s prevalence rates. It also shows that servants have greater risk to contaminate with HBsAg and confirms the positive role of vaccination in prevention of hepatitis B. It is recommended to test persons for hepatitis B virus (including serum HbsAg), perform hepatitis B vaccination and educate people about blood transmitted diseases to decrease prevalence of hepatitis B.