Prevalence of hepatitis B infection and carrier status among adults in Mexico

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection and carrier status in Mexico; to analyze the frequency and distribution of hepatitis B markers in relation to the demographic and geographic variables and to identify risk factors. Materials and Methods. A total of 12 014 sera samples from the 2000 National Health Survey that were randomly selected for Anti-HBc and HBsAg were studied. The sera were collected between November 1999 and June 2000 on a national level. Results. Seroprevalence for anti-HBc and HBsAg were 3.3% (Cl 95%:2.8-3.9) and 0.21% (0.11-15.37), respectively. Odds ratios adjusted by age for anti-HBc were: 15.3 for subjects 50 to 59 years old as compared with adults less than 29 years of age; 2.6 for residents in the southern region of the country as compared with residents in the central region; 4.6 for laborers as compared with business owners; 2.1 for women having had stillbirths; and 1.7 for adults having initiated sexual relations before 25 years of age. Conclusion. The epidemiological pattern for hepatitis B in Mexico is lower than the data worldwide. Nevertheless, it is of concern that 1.7 million Mexicans have suffered from the infection caused by this virus and 107 000 suffer from a chronic carrier status.