Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
2
Research Assistant Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanAnahita Babak
3
Community and Preventive Medicine Specialist, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
4
Microbiologist, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
5
Manager, Isfahan Provice Social Welfare Organisation, Isfahan
6
PhD Student in Psychology and Social Chancellor, Isfahan Provice Social Welfare Organisation, Isfahan
Abstract
Background:
Millions of children around the world live on the street. They are at higher risk of viral diseases (eg. hepatitis B virus) because of physical, sexual and drug abuse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its risk factors in Isfahan street children.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we selected 399 street children. After getting information and performing the tests for HBs Ag, HBs Ab and HBc Ab, data were analyzed by SPSS software version 15 used t-test, χ2, Mann-Whitney and logistic regression.
Findings: We studied 271 (68%) boys and 128 (32%) girls. Their mean age was 12.74 ± 3.27 years. In our study, poverty was the main motivation for street children (68% of participants). 91.7%, 94.7% and 96.7% of the participants had no history of smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages or drug abuse, respectively. 34.4% of girls and 4.4% of boys (P = 0.001) were sexually abused and 68% of girls and 17.3% of boys (P = 0.001) were involved in physical fighting. HBs Ag, HBs Ab and HBc Ab seroprevalence were 3.3%, 14.4% and 2.1% respectively. No significant statistical difference was between HBV-seroprevalence and its probable risk factors.
Conclusion: KEducational programs for safer behaviors, training them to improve their quality of life, and hepatitis B vaccination in those who are non-immune should be performed.
Key words: HBV, Street children, Risk factors, Risk behaviors, Prevention.
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