Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among chronic schizophrenia patients.
Author: Said WM, Saleh R, Jumaian N.
Source:
EMHJ-Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 7 (3), 526-530, 2001.
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).