SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY ON HBV INFECTION IN XI'AN——A BASELINE STUDY BEFORE HEPATITIS B VACCINATION / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

A baseline seroepidemiologic study of HBV infection was conducted in 1384 people in Xi'an, The results show that in kindergarten children the prevalence rates of anti-Hbs and seropositivity (at least one of HBV markers detectable) are significantly lower than those in school children and adults. In children above 8 years of age both rates mentioned above are very close to those of adults. To conclude these, we put forward the following points for the decision making of hepatitis B vaccination in our country (1) Hepatitis B vaccine should be given as soon as possible to all infants or newborns. (2) In children under 3 years of age, a no screening vaccination program should be extended. As to what the vaccination program for children above 3 years of age should be and whether a hepetitis B vaccination should be done or not in school children, further studies are to be carried out. The study also provides bases for the feasibility of using one or two HBV serologic markers in large scale population screening before vaccination.