Hepatitis B virus sero-markers, hepatitis C virus antibody and risk behaviors among middle age and older Thai males.

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study of 1069 Thai males over 40 years of age was carried out to assess risk behaviors towards hepatitis B and C. All studied participants who voluntarily participated and signed informed consents were interviewed. One hundred eighty-seven volunteers participated in blood screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero-markers and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The results reveal of 1069 subjects, 21.3% had tattoos, 18.4% had a history of regular alcohol consumption (drinking alcohol > or =5 days/week), and 16.4% had a history of extramarital sex without using condoms during the previous year. Results from blood screening showed 93.1% were positive for HBV sero-markers, 4.3% had a positive HBsAg, 58.8% had a positive anti-HBs, and 0.5% had a positive anti-HCV antibody. Nine subjects were positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV, most (7/9) had at least one risk behavior.