PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B ANTIBODY IN PROSTITUTES12
- 1 September 1975
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Epidemiology
- Vol. 102 (3) , 241-250
- https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112153
Abstract
Frösner, G. G. (Hygiene-lnstitut der Universität Tübingen, 74 Tübingen. W. Germany), H. M. Buchholz and H. -J. Gerth. Prevalence of hepatitis B antibody in prostitutes. Am J Epidemiol 102: 241–250, 1975. The possibility that hepatitis B is transmitted venereally was examined by determiningthe prevalence of hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBS) in populations with different levels of promiscuity. Of 258 prostitutes, 31% were anti-HBS positive, compared to 10% of 258 female age-matched blood donors, 10% of 48 nuns living in a convent and 15% of 94 nuns working as teachers. Prevalence of anti-HBS increased with increasing age. In the age group 40–49 years up to 72% of prostitutes were anti-HBS positive, whereas anti-HBS was found in only 23% of blood donors. The correlation of length of the registration period as a prostitute and frequency of venereal diseases to prevalence of anti-HBS supported the hypothesis that the agent of hepatitis B was transmitted sexually. Thiscorrelation was absent for echovirus type 12 and adenovirus type 10 antibody.Keywords
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