ABSTRACT
We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among chronic schizophrenia patients in Jordan. Over a period of 12 months, 192 patients (106 male and 86 female) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by enzyme immunoassay. An equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also tested. Of the schizophrenia patients, 14 (10 male and 4 female) were positive for HBsAg while only 5 (4 male and 1 female) of the control subjects tested positive. The difference was not statistically significant but it indicates that chronic schizophrenia patients are a risk group for HBV infection and likely to benefit from preventive measures (health education and immunization against HBV).
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/etiology , Schizophrenia/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Female , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Humans , Jordan , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Population Surveillance , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex Distribution , Time FactorsABSTRACT
We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] among chronic schizophrenia patients in Jordan. Over a period of 12 months, 192 patients [106 male and 86 female] were tested for hepatitis B virus [HBV] by enzyme immunoassay. An equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also tested. Of the schizophrenia patients, 14 [10 male and 4 female] were positive for HBsAg while only 5 [4 male and 1 female] of the control subjects tested positive. The difference was not statistically significant but it indicates that chronic schizophrenia patients are a risk group for HBV infection and likely to benefit from preventive measures [health education and immunization against HBV]
