Hepatitis B infection in Yemenis in Sana'a: pattern and risk factors.

A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted among 2652 individuals (age range: 1 month-95 years; median 23 years) who presented at Sana'a Central Health Laboratory in response to a campaign to control hepatitis B virus. Screening was carried out by reverse passive haemagglutination. Specificity of positive samples was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Of 2321 participants, 7.4% were carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. Risk factors determined by bivariate analysis were age, sex, residence, exposure to cutting and puncturing tools and blood transfusion. Multivariate analysis revealed age to be the best predictor of the carrier rate of hepatitis B virus.