Seroprevalence of Positive HbsAg and its Associated Factors in Pregnant Women Referred to Health Centers of Agh-Ghala City in 2010-2012

The mother''s infection to HBV viruses can expose the baby to the risk of next infection to chronic hepatitis، on the other hand، the prevalence of hepatitis is related to the health and socio-economic factors of the people in an area. This study was performed with aim to determine the seroprevalence of HbsAg+ and its relation with some effective factors in pregnant women referred to health centers of Agh-Ghala city. In this descriptive، and cross-sectional study، 1057 pregnant women were studied during two years of 2010 until 2012 in terms of prevalence of HbsAg+ in Agh-Ghala city. Data was recorded in the questionnaire with blood samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 16) and Fisher، Chi-square، and T-Test. P< 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Among total women، HBsAg was found positive in 17 (1. 6%) pregnant women. Most percentage was related to the Turkmen and Sistani and rural areas. There was significant relationship between ethnicity and tattoos and history of jaundice with hepatitis B (P<0. 05). But، no significant relationship was found between the age، job، place of residence، education، history of surgery and dental surgery، addiction of the subjects and their husbands and blood transfusion (P>0. 05). The prevalence of hepatitis B is somewhat high in Agh-Ghala city and suggests the need for screening and treatment. Therefore، tests must be performed as one of the routine tests for searching hepatitis B virus during the perinatal period.