Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children in The Eastern Anatolia

The aim of this study was to investigate antibody (hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunity) seropositivity and HBV carriage state in children in the Eastern Anatolia. Method: The study was performed from January to December 1999. Eight-hundred and fifty-three healthy children (421 boys and 432 girls) younger than 15 years were included in the study. Serum HBsAg and its antibody (antiHBs) were tested by radioimmunoassays using Ausria II and Ausab (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill), respectively. Results: HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity were found as 84/853 (9.8 %) and 64/853 (7.5%), respectively. HBsAg seropositivity is significantly higher than the reported rates in previous studies in Turkey. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV carriage in childhood is significantly high in the Eastern Anatolia. Effective screening and vaccination programmes with health education and socioeconomic development are cornerstones in the prevention of HBV infection in this region.