52. Nashef, L., Thalji, A. Hepatitis B Serology Among the Palestinian Population. Makassed Islamic Charitable Hospital, Jerusalem, 1991, 16 pp.

A sample of 778 persons under the age of 50 years was tested for anti-S and HBsAg using the ELISA technique. Fourteen cases tested positive for the HBsAg and 159 cases tested positive for anti-S. The main finding was that the prevalence of the HBsAg significantly rose with increasing age of the tested persons, indicating that perinatal transmission played only a minor role in transmission. Sex, past jaundice, crowding, presence of latrine in household and water supply had no effect on the prevalence rates of either HBsAg or anti- S. The authors suggest that a vaccination program for the whole population is justified.