Background: Hepatitis is a disease causing inflammation of the liver and impairment of its function .It is often transmitted through contaminated blood and blood products and may become chronic presenting with flu like symptoms .Also fatigue , loss of appetite , myalgia and arthralgia , nausea and vomiting are its remarkable symptoms. The aim of this research was to study the prevalence rate of hepatitis B in rural papulation of Garab, Padervand, Chaghabal and Tang-e Panj in terms of age, sex, job… and its comparison with prevalence rate in similar regions of our province and country. Materials and Methods: Aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HbsAg infection in areas of Garab, Padervand , Chaghabal and Tang-e Panj and relationship between defined epidemiological factors and the infection in the population under study, after providing a questionnaire containing the symptoms of the disease, the data were collected and blood specimens were obtained. Then the specimens were tested by ELISA . Results : Out of a total of 454 cases 227 were male and 227 were female ( identical sex ratio ) of them 27 cases (6.2 % ) were HBsAg positive . Out of infected persons 14 were male(51.9%) and 13 were female(48.1%) . Most infected ones were 20 to 40 years old and housewives , truck drivers and students were amongst the most infected cases . Conclusion : Based on the findings of the study heptitis B infection in these areas is far more frequent than the mean national rates amounting to 2 to 3 percent that is in accordance with surveillance system data in the mentioned areas . Although the findings does not define the main transmission pattern of the disease , when age and gender distribution of infected cases is considered ( almost equal sex ratio and preponderance of married ones ) we can state that this pattern is largely directed to sexual transmission .Although all age and sex groups are at risk , men and those at the age of 20 to 40 are more prone to infection . Occupation, blood transfusion , household dimension , vaccination history were significantly related to HbsAg infection .

Keywords: Hepatitis B, ELISA, Prevalence, Serology, Lorestan

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