Hepatitis B Sero-prevalence and Risk Factors Among School-age Children in a Low Socioeconomic Community,Bangkok

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of 165 school-age children who had no history of HBV vaccination was carried out in a low socioeconomic community of Din-Daeng, Bangkok. Blood specimens were collected for determination of HBV seromarkers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HBc) by EIA commercial kits. The results showed that the prevalence of HBV seromarkers was 24.85%, the HBsAg carrier rate was 3.64%, the anti-HBs positive rate was 15.15%, and the prevalence of only anti-HBc was 6.06%. To investigate factors associated with the positivity of HBV seromarkers, children were divided into two groups-the first group consisted of 41 children with HBV seromarkers and the second consisted of 124 children without HBV seromarkers. The study variables between the two groups were compared and analysed. The results revealed that factors associated with HBV positivity were (a) child factors: child's age, child's sex, ear piercing in female, sharing blade during haircutting, contact wound from other persons, using wares with other persons, searching things in garbage, and (b) family factors: older parent, low education in parent, low family income per month, low parent's knowledge and attitude about HBV infection and vaccination, (P < 0.05). After using stepwise regression analysis, the factor of ear piercing in female was only one significant variable (P = 0.007).

Keywords

HBV Sero-prevalence Risk Factors School-age Children

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. World Health Organization. Hepatitis B vaccine prepared from yeast by recombinant DNA techniques: Memorandum from a WHO meeting. Bull WHO 1985; 63: 57–61.

2. Alward WL , McMahon BJ , Hall DB , Heyward WL , Francis DP , Bender TR. The long term serological course of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers and the development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. J Infect Dis 1985; 151; 604–8.

3. Zucherman AJ.

Who should be immunized against hepatitis B?

Br Med J 1984; 289; 1243–4.

4. Beasley RP , Lin CC , Hwang LY , Chen CS. Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B virus: Aprospective study of 22, 707 men in Taiwan. Lancet 1981; 2: 1129–33.

5. Steven CE , Beasley RP , Taui J , Lee WC. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan. N Engl J Med 1975; 292: 771–4.

6. Pongpipat D , Suvatte V , Assateerawatts A. Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in Thailand. Asian Pacific J Allerg Immun 1985; 3: 191–3.

7. Theppisai U , Chiewsilp P , Thanuntaseth C , Siripoonya P. A comparison between the efficacy of passive and active immunization for prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus. J Med Assoc Thailand 1987; 70: 459–62.

8. Pramoolsinsap C , Pukrittayakamee S , Desakorn V. Hepatitis B problem in Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1986; 17: 219–28

9. Taylor R , Montaville B , Levy S , et al. Hepatitis B infection in Vanuatu: Age of acquisition for infection and possible routes of transmission. Asia Pacific J Public Health 1989; 3: 205–12.

10.

10. Symposium reporter. Prospects for the eradication of hepatitis B virus. International Congress, Geneva. Medical Progress 1989; 16: 7–9.

11.

11. Scott RM, Snitbhan R, Kennedy RA, Pearlman EJ. Epidemiology of hepatitis B in a well-defined rural Thai population. The annual progress report of the Armed Force Research Institute of Medical Sciences. 1976–1977;84–6.

12.

12. Snitbhan R, Bancroft WH, Scott RM. Continuing studies of hepatitis B antigen carriers in residents of Khao-Yai National Park. The annual progress report of the SEATO Medical Research Laboratory 1975–1976;46–8.

13.

13. Grossman RA , Benenson MW , Scott RM , Snitbhan R , Top FH Jr , Pahtuwatana S. An epidemiologic study of hepatitis B virus in Bangkok, Thailand. Am J Epidemiol 1975; 101: 144–59.

14.

14. Wasi C , Thongcharoen P , Imwitaya S , Dulyasakdi B , Chainuvat T. Hepatitis B infection in Thailand. The 5th International Conference on Global Impacts of Applied Microbiology, Bangkok, Thailand.21–26 November 1977.

15.

15. Pongpipat A , Suvatte V , Assateerawatts A , Bhethraratt S. Active pre-exposure immunization against hepatitis B virus: Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy Thai adults and children. Asian Pacific J Allerg Immun 1987; 5: 63–5.

16.

16. Sobeslavsky O. Prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in various countries. A WHO collaborative study. Bull WHO 1980; 58: 621–8.

17.

17. Zaman SN , Melia WM , Johnson RD , et al. Risk factors in development of 'hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis; Prospective study of 613 patients. Lancet 1985; 1: 1357–60.-

18.

18. Karim SS , Coovadia HM , Windsor IM , et al. The prevalence and transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in urban, rural and institutionalized black children of Natal/Kwazulus, South Africa. Int J Epidemiol 1988, 17: 168–73.

19.

19. Mosley JW. The epidemiology of viral hepatitis: An overview. Am J Med Sci 1975; 270: 253–70.

20.

20. Bernier RH , Sampliner R , Gerety R , et al. Hepatitis B infection in households of chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. Am J Epidemiol 1982; 116: 199–211.

21.

21. Shapiro CN , McCaig LF , Gensheimer KF , et al. Hepatitis B virus transmission between children in day care. Pediatr Infect Dis 1989; 8: 870–5.