Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Viral Infection among Women in the Reproductive Age in North Gaza Governorate in 2008

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus infection is a common worldwide problem characterized by an inflammatory process of the liver cells with prevalence of 5% worldwide.

Case control study design conducted to identify the risk factors of hepatitis B viral infection among women in the childbearing age in 2008. 100 women "mean age 30.21years" attended Al-Awda Hospital for delivery in 2008 their HBsAg test were positive and one control for each. The results showed that the main statistically significant risk factors were; educational status, working status, type of work, dental intervention, place of dental intervention, place of surgical operation, body tattooing, familial infection with HB, caring of infected patient, sharing family with nail cutter and keeping tooth brush with each other. No statistically significant  differences were found related to using unsterile injection, age, type of delivery, place of delivery, surgical operation, living area, blood transfusion, touching of infected blood, sharing familial tooth brush, needled sticking and travelling abroad. The researcher concluded that most of risk factors consider as controllable risk factors through life style modification and proper sterilization. In Palestine, practicing illegal sexual relations and injectable drug abuse are not BHV risk factors. The study recommended to do routine HBV screening to all women before delivery, mass vaccination of all women in childbearing age, HB vaccine combined with HBIG to all babies born to HBV infected mothers.