investigation of hepatitis B seropositivity in Sakarya university students

Our aim was to determine Hepatitis B seropositivity and contributory factors among students in Sakarya University, Turkey. Two hundred [200] students who met the study criteria were included in the study using random sampling method. The students were informed of the purpose and method of the study and were asked to sign a participation consent form. The data was obtained through questionnaires. The demographic characteristics [age, gender, accommodations, education level and occupation of parents] were compared with HBV seropositive and negative groups. In study, the relationship between risk factors and HBV seropositivity was investigated. The ECLIA technique was applied and the positivity of Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and antibody [Anti HBs] were detected. The average age of the students was 20.9 +/- 2.27 years. 67.5% of the students were female and 32.5% were male. In 84% of the students HBsAg and anti HBs was found to be negative; 13% of the students tested positive for Anti HBs only and 3% of the students tested positive for HBsAg only. When HBsAg or AntiHBs positivity was compared with demographic characteristics, no statistically significant [p > 0.05] results were found. Sexual intercourse with multiple partners, having hemorrhagic diseases and blood-transfusion were found to be important risk factors

Maternal risk factors affecting newborn parameters

Pregestational body mass index [BMI] which is one of the best markers of nutritional status can be one of many variables affecting fetal growth. We wanted to determine the relations between various prepregnancy BMI categories, parity and newborn Ponderal indexes, birthweights in our population. For the assessment of the functional significance of BMI during pre-pregnancy, data from 264 women living in Sakarya were used. Maternal age, pregestational weight, height, parity were obtained from self-report at interview. We evaluated the relationship between maternal age, parity, pregestational weight and BMIs and newborn parameters as birthweight and Ponderal index. Average of the birth weight was 3.340 +/- 400gr, of the birth height was 50.53 +/- 1.66cm, of Ponderal index was 25.54 +/- 2.06. The mean of maternal BMI was 23.06 +/- 3.64, of parity was 2.14 +/- 1.17. When BMI groups were compared with birthweight [p: 0.026] and parity [p: 0.02], it was observed that it had significant relationship. Statistical differences were not observed between maternal pregestational BMI and newborn Ponderal index [p:0.466]. Nutritional conditions should be corrected in pregestational life to reduce the possibility of low birth weight newborn