case-control study of risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection in North Jordan

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 82; no. 2; pp. 220 - 223
• Main Authors: Hayajneh, Wail A, Masaadeh, Hani A, Hayajneh, Yaseen A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Child; dental hygiene; Endemic Diseases; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - transmission; hepatitis B virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Jordan - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Oral Hygiene; Risk Factors; travel; Viral diseases; Virology; Young Adult; Jordan; Asia; Human; risk factors; Orthohepadnavirus; Hepatic disease; Case control study; Infection; Virus; Viral hepatitis B; Hepadnaviridae; Viral disease; Risk factor; Digestive diseases; dental hygiene; Hepatitis B virus; travel
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21603

Jordan is a country with intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection where risk factors for viral transmission and their relative contributions are not well known. A case-control study of 100 hepatitis B virus seropositive patients and another 100 seronegative controls was conducted. Univariate analysis and logistic regression model were performed to examine probable risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis B virus infections. Logistic-regression analysis showed that significant risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis B virus infection were sharing toothbrushes (odds ratio = 10.167; 95% confidence interval, 1.181-87.509), unhygienic dental care (odds ratio = 2.455; 95% confidence interval, 1.294-4.658), and living abroad for at least 1 year (odds ratio = 20.018; 95% confidence interval, 2.268-176.685). The presence of these risk factors emphasizes the need for both increasing the use of hepatitis B vaccines and risk-targeted public health education. Development and enforcement of appropriate infection control guidelines for dental care services are also necessary to curtail HBV transmission. Further research that controls for confounding factors is needed to assess the relative contribution of the identified risk factors in the Jordanian community. J. Med. Virol. 82:220-223, 2010.