Hepatitis B prevalence in young women living in low-income areas - The population-based San Francisco Bay Area's young women's survey

Background: The risk of sexually transmitted hepatitis B virus infection is proportionally higher for young adults and women. Low socioeconomic groups have high rates of hepatitis B infection with no identified source of tran smission. The prevalence and correlates of transmission of hepatitis B viru s among young women of low socioeconomic status have not been well document ed. Goal: To determine the population-based prevalence and correlates of sexual ly acquired hepatitis B virus infection in young low-income women in the Sa n Francisco Bay Area. Study Design: A three-county, door-to-door serosurvey of hepatitis B virus core antibody among young women living in low-income areas was conducted fr om April 1996 to January 1998. Multivariate analysis of sexually acquired h epatitis B virus infection excluded participants of Asian or Pacific Island er ethnicity or with a history of intravenous drug use or transfusion. Results: The prevalence of sexually acquired hepatitis B virus infection wa s 6.4% (95% CI, 4.7%-8.1%). Correlates of infection were black race (odds r atio, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.2-11.9 compared with white race) and herpes simplex vi rus type 2 infection (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-3.9). Conclusions: Young black women have a higher risk of sexually acquired hepa titis B virus infection. Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection may predispo se to hepatitis B virus infection and/or be a marker for lifetime sexual ri sk behavior.