Abstract

 Background and Objectives

  Viral hepatitis B is a dangerous disease with high mortality and morbidity rate in the world. It has been proved that its prevalence in different areas depends on risk behaviors and people’s awareness level. This paper was prepared to detect the risk factors of hepatitis B in blood donors in Isfahan province.

  Materials and Methods

  In a cross-sectional study, 39 seropositive blood donors and 261 seronegeative ones in 2004 were studied. HBsAg was examined via ELISA. Standard hepatitis B risk factor questionnaires were completed for all of the samples and the prevalence of each risk factor in case and control subjects was compared through X² test, using SPSS-10 software with p<0.05.

 Results

  This study indicated that the history of surgeries, use of shared razors, jaundice of mother, presence of HBsAg⁺ patients and drug addicts in families were statistically significant in the two groups. There was not any hemodialysis history, accident of needle sticks and needle sharing by drug addicts.

 Conclusions

  Since the relative frequency of surgery history in the two groups was significantly different, attending to hospital and operation room hygine seems to be very important. Moreover, since hepatitis B can be prevented with education and vaccination, the families of
HBsAg⁺ patients and drug addicts should be encouraged to use education and vaccination.

 Using the results of this study, it is necessary to pay attention to hospitals and raise people awareness about hepatitis B transmission routes and vaccination of high risk individuals.

 Key words: Hepatitis B, Risk factors, Blood donors, Isfahan