The prevalence of hepatitis B in premarital counseling clinic at Siriraj Hospital.

Objective: To study the prevalence and associating factors of hepatitis B infection in the Premarital Counseling Clinic at Siriraj Hospital.

Material And Method: The data (medical history, physical examination, and Hepatitis B profile) was collected from medical records of 740 couples who attended the Premarital Counseling Clinic in Siriraj Hospital between September 2005 and December 2009 for this retrospective study.

Results: The prevalence of positive HBsAg in couples who attended the Premarital Counseling Clinic, Siriraj Hospital was 4.2%, which was 3.0% in male and 1.2% in female. The mean age of male was 32.9 +/- 5.1 years old and 30.7 +/- 3.9 years old in female. History of hepatitis B vaccination was found less in male (male 6.1% vs. female 8.8%). Four point two percent of participants were positive HBsAg but negative of HBsAb. Twenty-four couples were at risk or 3.2%. Male gender and history of no hepatitis B vaccination was significantly associated with positive HBsAg. No significant difference was found between age and occupation.

Conclusion: The prevalence of positive HBsAg in the Premarital Counseling Clinic, Siriraj Hospital was 4.2%. Male gender and history of no hepatitis B vaccination had significant association with positive HBsAg.