RESUMO
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES.
Assuntos
Proteção da Criança/estatística & dados numéricos , Hepatite A/epidemiologia , Classe Social , Saúde da População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Distribuição por Idade , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Egito/epidemiologia , Doenças Endêmicas/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Hepatite A/imunologia , Hepatite A/metabolismo , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite A/sangue , Vírus da Hepatite A Humana/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Vigilância da População , Eliminação de Resíduos/estatística & dados numéricos , Características de Residência/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores de Risco , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Abastecimento de Água/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus [HAV] antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status [SES] in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES
