Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Senior Citizens in a Southern Brazilian City

Abstract

The prevalence of anti-HBc among the elderly in the city of Tubarão was higher than in previous studies evaluating blood donors in the same region. Despite the association of previous HBV infection and factors indirectly related to sexual risk behaviors, the results suggest the involvement of invasive therapeutic procedures in the HBV transmission chain.