Seroprevalances of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in adults in Düzce

Background/Aim: Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are common infectious diseases throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization report hepatitis B carriage in Turkey is between 2-7% and our country includes in moderate endemicity countries. HCV prevelance in normal population is 0.2-1% in Turkey. In this study we aimed to find out the frequency of HBsAg, antiHBs, and HCV in Düzce.Methods: Sample of study was determined with cluster type exemplification method. Samples of serum obtained from test subjects were studied with using Equipar HBsAg (membrane based immunodiagnostic test), Equipar HBsAb and Equipar anti-HCV (chromatographic immunoassay test) rapid tests. 1321 people were included in this study consisting of 667 women (50.5%) and 654 men (49.5%) who were 18 years or older. The mean age of the participants was 41.9 ± 15.7. A questionnaire involving questions about demographic makings and risk factors was applied.Results: HBsAg carriage was found 4.8% in Düzce. This proportion was detected 4.3% in men and 5.4% in women and difference between two groups was not found significant (P>0.05). HBsAg carriage was found 5.3% in rural area and 4.5% in urban. Significant statistical difference was not found between this two group either (P>0.05). HBsAg positivity was detected 21 (8.9%) of dental visit. HBsAg positivity was found statistically higher in dental visit group than who do not take dental visit (4.0%) (P: 0.002). Similarly, HBsAg positivity in people live within the same home with hepatitis B carrier (11.5%) was found statisticaly higher than who do not have similar history (4.6%) (P: 0.036). Living in Düzce during earthquake, staying in prefabricated house after earthquake and the other risk factors were not found risky for HBsAg carriage in Düzce. Anti-HBs positivity was found 9.4% in screening group and established that 17.7% of them was vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine before. Anti-HCV seroprevalence in our region was found 0.7% (9/1321). Among anti-HCV positive persons, 6 (0.9%) of them were female and 3 (0.5%) of them were male. In terms of anti-HCV positivity rations, significant difference was not determined between females and males (P>0.05). Among anti-HCV positive persons, 0.4% (2/547) and 0.9% (7/774) were live in rural and urban areas respectively. Significant difference was not observed in living areas among anti-HCV positivity (P>0.05).Conclusion: HBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalence in Düzce was similar with other study results from our country, and low ratio of anti-HBs was appeared. Identifying risk groups with large screening studies in our region and making nonimmune persons immun with vaccination was essential.Key Words: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, adults, Düzce