Investigation of intrafamilial transmission in Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive cases in Harran University Hospital [Harran Üniversitesi Araştirma Hastanesinde Hepatit B yüzey Antijeni (HBsAg) pozitif olgularda aile i·çi bulaşin i·ncelenmesi]

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problemowing to communicable and widespreant. In addition to It is important issue because of preventable and prevent to people from contaminated persons. Transmission of HBV may be connected to transmission carrecteristics such as horizontal, vertical, sexual and blood, priority. Aim of this study is to determine the possible route of HBV transmission throughout a family setting. Material and Methods: 173 members (29 spouses, 82 offspring, 11 mothers, 11 fathers and 40 siblings) of 40 index cases (HBsAg carriers and chronic active hepatitis cases) attending the Harran University Medical Faculty Hospital between Augst 2006 and March 2007 were screened prospectively for markers of HBV by using an ELISA. The chi-squared and Logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis. Results: Index cases was 18.8% of all family members, while HBsAg prevalence is 15.0% among family members except index cases. Among family members, the highest prevalences of antiHBc were in the mothers (54.5%) and sisters (45.5%), brothers (33.3%), sons (32.6%)and wifes (31.3%), the least prevalences of antiHBc were husbands (7.7%), fathers (18.2%), and doughters (22.2%) of all index cases. Transmission of HBV to both the mothers and sisters were positive was high, Transmission of HBV to fathers was low in all families. There was significant difference in cases where only the mother and husbands of index cases for HBV transmission (p= 0.012). In the logistic regression model; living with chronic hepatitis B index case (OR= 1.92; CI= 1.03-3.57), to be illiterate (OR= 6.81 CI= 1.27-22.13), born at home with traditional methods (OR= 3.70; CI= 1.15-11.87) and born at home with the help of midwife (OR= 3.44; CI= 1.47-7.91) were higher risk for hepatitits B transmision. Conclusion: The family members of index cases with inactive HBV carriers, particularly in the case of chronic active hepatitis have a high risk of transmission. Copyright © 2009 by Türkiye Klinikleri