The Readiness Rate of Couples Referred To the Premarital Counseling Center for Hepatitis B Virus Infection Testing in Yazd-Iran (2012)

Background: Hepatitis B is a liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. HBV infection is a worldwide problem. Hepatitis B infection is associated with serious complications, including liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study the willingness rate of couples referred to the counseling center for testing premarital HBV infection was investigated in Yazd. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive study, a random sampling was done among couples referred to Yazd clinic (Akbari clinic). These cases were 1000 men and 1000 women referred to marry. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS software and chi-square statistical method. Results: From 2000 couples, in total, 62.6% of them were compliant with testing premarital HBV. They were included 51.7% under 20 years, 63.8% between 20 to 29 years, and 68.5% above 29 years. There was a significant difference between the age groups about readiness for hepatitis B virus infection testing before marriage (p_value: 0.000), but this difference was not statistically significant about sex groups (p_value: 0.395). Conclusions: The findings show relatively high readiness of our cases for hepatitis B virus infection testing before marriage, thus, according to the will of the couples screening premarital hepatitis B infection is very important in the early diagnosis and prevention of transmission of disease.