Open AccessPrevalence of chronic hepatitis B in South Western Sydney: evaluation of the country of birth method using maternal seroprevalence data
Author(s) -
Turnour Caroline E.,
Cretikos Michelle A.,
Conaty Stephen J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00657.x
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , hbsag , medicine , hepatitis b , population , census , public health , demography , hepatitis , hepatitis a , environmental health , immunology , hepatitis b virus , pathology , antibody , virus , serology , sociology
Objective : To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and evaluate the country of birth (Census) method of describing hepatitis B distribution in an Australian health service with a large migrant population.Methods : The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS, population 1.3 million) was estimated by applying the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in high or intermediate hepatitis B prevalence countries to SSWAHS residents from those countries, using 2006 Census data. The Australian hepatitis B prevalence (0.7%) was applied to the remainder. This method was validated using HBsAg seroprevalence in 42,274 women aged 15–44 years who delivered at SSWAHS public maternity hospitals during 2007 to 2009.Results : The SSWAHS prevalence of HBsAg using the Census method was 2.0% for all ages and 2.3% for 15–44 year old women. The seroprevalence in 15–44 year old mothers was 1.8%. The adjusted population prevalence was 1.6%. The two methods produced broadly similar descriptions of relative hepatitis B burden by local government area and country of birth.Conclusion : The Census method overestimates the prevalence of hepatitis B infection by 30%, but produces similar patterns of hepatitis B burden across the area. Health services can estimate the prevalence and distribution of chronic hepatitis B using readily available data to focus delivery of prevention and treatment services.