The prevalence of hepatitis B infection in central China: An adult population-based serological survey of a large sample size.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of serum HBsAg among adults in Henan province, China. A provincial serosurvey of people aged 18-74 years was conducted and individuals for analysis were selected using a multistage stratified random cluster sampling method. A 5-ml serum sample from each person was collected and the serum was tested for the presence of HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, HBeAg, and HBeAb by ELISA. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with the prevalence of HBsAg. A total of 16,685 residents, aged 18-74 years who resided in 60 communities or villages in Henan, China were surveyed. Among the eligible study population, 642 HBsAg positive cases (3.7%) were found. The prevalence increased steadily from 3.1% among population aged 18-35 years old, to 5.1% among population aged 55-74 years. Accordingly, HBsAb declined steadily from 53.4% to 24.7%. Six hundred and forty-two positive HBsAg blood samples were screened for the HBeAg and HBeAb. HBeAg prevalence declined steadily from 27.7% among population age 18-35 years old to 6.8% among population age 55-74 years old. The single factor analysis was used for 16 possible risk factors and multivariate analysis showed that five risk factors were significantly related to HBV infection. HBV infection is a serious public health problem among adult population in Henan. Strengthening administrative regulations of medical practices, especially in rural areas, and providing health education propaganda to the public of HBV infection should be given more attention on public health policy. J. Med. Virol. 89:450-457, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors on hepatitis C in Maqiao township, Henan province of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred in Henan province,at the end of 2011.Methods Five villages round Maqiao township,including 5187 residents,were selected for the study.Five-milliliter-blood was drawn from every one of the interviewee.Clinical data including age,gender and anti-HCV antibody was recorded.Patients with positive antibodies against HCV were tested for HCV RNA.Results A total number of 5187 people from five villages were studied,with age span from 1 to 97.The average age was 48 years and the sex ratio was 1 ∶ 1.34.The anti-HCV result showed that the prevalence was 2.27％,with 1-9 age group the lowest ( 1.55％ ) and the ≥50 year-olds the highest (4.93％).Different villages seemed to have significant differences on the prevalence of HCV,with the highest as 8.68％ and the lowest as 0.55％.Under risk factors analysis and distance-infection rates linear regression analysis,data showed that the prevalence might have correlated to the behavior of a certain family-run clinic.Results from multivariate analysis indicated that factors as intravenous dropping,intravenous injection and the use of surgery/endoscope were associated with the HCV infection in this village.Conclusion Although the public health care system had been developed for more than ten years,iatrogenic infection was yet responsible for the infection of HCV patients in the rural areas of China that called for further attention paid to the system.