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Cited by 168Hepatitis B Virus StudiesInfection Control in HealthcareHIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Risk factors for horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus in a rural district in Ghana.

Martinson, F. E. A., Weigle, K. A., Royce, R. A., Weber, D. J., Suchindran, C. M., Lemon, S. M.·1998·American Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009474
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Abstract

Most hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in sub-Saharan African infants and children are acquired through horizontal transmission, but the exact mechanisms of spread have not been documented. The authors conducted a study in rural Ghana which determined seroprevalence in a probability sample of 1,385 individuals of all ages, and evaluated risk factors for horizontal transmission of HBV in a subsample of 547 children aged 1-16 years who were not hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Most residents in this district live in compounds which typically contain 2-4 households each. Overall prevalence of HBV seropositives (any HBV marker) was 74.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 72.5%-76.9%). Prevalence of HBsAg was 20.9% (95% CI 18.8%-23.1%). The data suggest a continuous nonuniform acquisition of HBV infection with advancing age predominantly through horizontal transmission in childhood, with the household, rather than the domestic compound, being the primary place for transmission. The behaviors most strongly associated with prevalence of HBV were sharing of bath towels (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.1-4.5), sharing of chewing gum or partially eaten candies (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.3-5.0), sharing of dental cleaning materials (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.6), and biting of fingernails in conjunction with scratching the backs of carriers (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-4.3).

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  • Studies have demonstrated other modes of HBV transmission, including premastication and lapses in health care infection control procedures, as less common sources of transmission.

    “In addition, studies have demonstrated other modes of HBV transmission, including premastication and lapses in health care infection control procedures, as less common sources of transmission (1314–1317).”

    From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [1316]

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Authors
Martinson, F. E. A., Weigle, K. A., Royce, R. A., Weber, D. J., Suchindran, C. M., & Lemon, S. M.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
ORCID
Lemon, S. M.
Venue
American Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1998-03-01
Volume
147
Issue
5
Pages
478-487
ISSN
  • 0002-9262 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-6256
DOI
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009474
OpenAlex
W2118373714
Cited by
168
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
FWCI
2.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Rockefeller Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Hepatitis B Virus Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
Keywords
hepatitis B virus, horizontal transmission, household transmission, HBsAg prevalence, children, risk factors, shared personal items, oral hygiene habits, rural Ghana, sub-Saharan Africa
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Child Welfare, Child, Preschool, Family Characteristics, Female, Ghana, Hepatitis Antibodies, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B virus, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Rural Health, Prevalence, Disease Transmission, Infectious

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