The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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The epidemiologic features of HBV, HDV and HIV in the general population of Hamadan province of Iran were studied. A total of 4930 subjects (1649 males and 3281 females) constituted the study population. Seropositivity for any HBV marker was found in 25.72% of the subjects. ⋯ Our results suggest that horizontal transmission is likely to be the primary mode of acquisition of HBV infection in children and young adults. Also infection is partly transmitted before or soon after birth to babies of HBsAg-carrier mothers. Socioeconomic and demographic variables have a greater impact on the prevalence of HBV infection than blood or medical care variables in our population.