A sero-epidemiological cross-sectional study of hepatitis B virus in Zimbabwe (original) (raw)

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers. A sero-epidemiological community-based cross-sectional study. All nine provinces of Zimbabwe. From April 1989 to December 1991 serum samples were collected from 1,461 males and 1,933 females in the age group 10-61 years, the majority in the younger age groups. Sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibody to HBs-Ag (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe). All sera were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc but for the detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe, only samples positive for HBsAg were examined. The male-to-female ratio in rural and urban settings was 0.82 and 0.66 respectively. The median age for males and females in rural areas was 21 and 22 years and 28 and 26 years respectively in urban areas. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 15.4% (males 16.8%, females 14.3%). The difference between sexes was cons...