Risk factors for chronic hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Bangalore, India.

OBJECTIVES AND AIM: We performed a study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) risk factors among blood donors in Bangalore, India. BACKGROUND: HBV infection is prevalent in India and poses a potential risk of transmission by blood transfusion, but studies of risk factors for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage among Indian blood donors are lacking. METHODS/MATERIALS: Using a case-cohort design, we enrolled 71 cases with repeatedly reactive HBsAg results and a cohort of 212 contemporaneous blood donors with unknown HBsAg status. Questionnaire data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In our multivariate analysis controlling for age, HBsAg positivity was associated with repeat donor status (OR = 0·34, 95% CI 0·17-0·71 vs first-time donor status), residence outside Bangalore and Hosur (rural areas) (OR = 15·66, 95% CI 3·60-68·07vs Bangalore residence), having been a customer at a local barber shop (OR = 4·07, 95% CI 2·06-8·03), close contact with a person who had jaundice (OR = 13·64, 95% CI 3·71-50·24) and cigarette smoking (OR = 3·25, 95% CI 1·39-7·60). CONCLUSION: In addition to recognised demographic risk factors, associations with patronage of local barbers and contact with jaundiced individuals suggest behavioural risk factors that could be adopted as exclusionary criteria for blood donation in India.

Epidemiological co-relates of low birth weight in rural Tamil Nadu.

A total of 328 consecutive births born between July and September 1990 were analysed. The rate of LBW was 24.6%. The mean birth weight was 2.72 kg (+/- 0.44 kg). Association between LBW and parity, mother's age, mother's height, gestational weight, risk status at pregnancy and antenatal care was observed. These results indicate that there is a need to strengthen maternal services to address the problem of LBW in India.