Assessment of Risk Factors in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its complications are major health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 174 patients with CHB who referred to the Shahid Mohammadi Hospital in the city of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Information was collected through a questionnaire. Results: 174 persons (97 males and 77 females) with a mean age of 42.96 years. There was no significant relationship between the risk of having a disease with gender, age, weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, and waist–hip ratio (P > 0.05). The frequency of exposure to risk factors is as follows: History of hairdressers, vaccination, contact with suspected HBV persons, and family history of HBV positive in patients had a higher prevalence than other groups. Conclusion: It seems to be more important to pay attention to lifestyles, jobs, and cultural themes of Iranian people that predispose people to risk factors so as to implement measures to control HBV spread. Furthermore, awareness and social-health education to avoid unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner can be highly effective according to the high levels of hepatitis B infection among married persons. Despite existence of a long list of risk factors, various epidemiological studies with alternative methodologies along with meta-analysis of risk factors in each separate area seem to be helpful in collecting information about transmission.
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