Seroepidemiological status of hepatitis B virus in children aged 1-14 years in certain regions of Guangdong Province,2009

Objective To understand the seroepidemiological status of hepatitis B virus(HBV) in children aged 1-14 years in certain regions of Guangdong Province and provide the scientific and academic basis for making strategies to control HBV infection in highly epidemic area.Methods A multi-stage stratified random sampling was designed to survey children aged 1-14 years in Nanxiong,Haifeng,and Xinxing counties in 2009.The contents of the questionnaire included general information,medical history,and hepatitis B vaccine.The serum samples were tested with chemiluminescence method for HBsAg,anti-HBs,and anti-HBc. Results A total of 1 185 children were investigated,including 684 males and 501 females.Of them,the infection rate of HBV and the positive rates of HBsAg,anti-HBs,and anti-HBc were 11.22%(133/1 185),2.53%(30/1 185),55.70%(660/1 185),and 7.85%(93/1 185),respectively.There were significant differences in the infection rate of HBV and positive rates of HBsAg,anti-HBs,anti-HBc between different age groups(P0.05 or P0.01).The immunization coverage rate of hepatitis B vaccine was 87.34%.Among 890 children with complete vaccination records,three-dose hepatitis B vaccine immunization coverage rate and timely birth dose coverage rate were 90.90%(809/890) and 78.31%(697/890),respectively.Comparing 1-6 age group with 7-9 age group and 10-14 age group,three-dose hepatitis B vaccine immunization coverage rate and timely birth dose coverage rate were reducing along with the rising of age,while the positive rate of HBsAg was rising(P0.05 or P0.01).Conclusion The seroepidemiological level of hepatitis B in investigated areas of Guangdong Province is higher than the average level in China.To control the HBV infection in children aged 1-14 in investigated areas,we should keep high three-dose hepatitis B vaccine coverage rate in the neonates and improve the timely birth dose coverage rate of hepatitis B vaccine.Meanwhile,it is also important to improve and enhance vaccination certificate inspection and replant hepatitis B vaccine.