Hepatitis B carrier state in young Jamaican children [abstract]

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of the hepatitis B carrier state in Jamaican children. METHODS: Serum specimens from 525 randomly-selected students attending one of 6 basic/pre-schools in the Kingston and St.Andrew region were tested at the MIcrobiology Laboratory of the University Hospital of the West Indies for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B antibodies. A second specimen was sent from each patient to a private laboratory where the tests were repeated and cross-checked against the results obtained from the UHWI laboratory. Demographic data concerning patients age and sex, maternal age and socio-economic status obtained from a parent interview were recorded on a pre-coded questionnare. The age of the students ranged from 3 years to 6 years with a mean age of 4 years. The male to female ratio was 23. Eighty percent of the mothers were under thirty-five years of age. RESULTS: The carrier state was identified in 12 percent of students. Six percent of the study sample had a reactive test for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of hepatitis B carrier state in children under 6 years of age supports infection acquired perinatally from infected mothers. This seroprevalence rate would classify Jamaica as an area of high endemicity and further support the urgent need for a national hepatitis B screening. (AU)