Occurrence of hepatitis B surface antigen in various population groups in Ethiopia
Gebreselassie, L.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 24(2): 63-67
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 3698976 Document Number: 268871
Various population groups living in different regions in Ethiopia were studied for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Among prisoners in Debre Markos, Gojjam Administrative Region, western Ethiopia, the occurrence of HBsAg was found to be 8.3% (10/120); in a similar group in Gondar Region, north-west Ethiopia, it was also 8.3% (5/60), and 6% (6/100) in inhabitants of Gondar city. In a rural community in the Angar/Dedessa river valley, Wellega Region, western Ethiopia, HBsAg was detected in 11% (27/236). In a remote area in Gambela, Ilubabor Region, south-west Ethiopia, its occurrence was 22% (35/159); furthermore, in a group of 44 pregnant indigenous Anuak women there, it reached the startling figure of 36% (16/44). The occurrence of HBsAg among blood-donors in Addis Ababa was 8.9% (46/512). In 500 young adult females from cities in 5 Administrative Regions, its occurrence was 2/100 in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia; 5/100 in Addis Ababa, central Ethiopia; 9/100 in Dessie, northern Ethiopia; 13/100 in Awassa, southern Ethiopia; and 28/100 in Gambela, south-west Ethiopia.