title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in Belize, Central America.
abstract: A seroprevalence survey of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was conducted among health care workers in Belize to help determine the epidemiology of hepatitis B and to determine if screening before immunization might lower vaccine costs. Of the 330 workers tested, 94 (29%) were positive for antibody to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) and three (1%) had HBV surface antigen. The presence of anti-HBc increased significantly with age from 12% in those 18-24 years old to 52% in those > or = 50 years old. The rate was 17% of 48 men compared with 30% of 282 women (P = 0.05). Rates increased with years of medical service and were higher among nurses (69 of 228; 30%) and nonprofessional staff (15 of 44; 34%) than among physicians (0 of 20). The presence of anti-HBc also differed significantly among ethnic groups: Mestizo, 4%; Creole, 33% and Garifuna, 57%. Rates differed by district ranging from 3% in a northern district (mostly Mestizo) to 67% in a southern district (mostly Garifuna). Parental exposure to hepatitis B through needle stick injuries and blood transfusions was not associated with anti-HBc. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed ethnicity, district of residence, and age as the best predictors of anti-HBc in health care workers. Cost analysis suggests that because of regional differences in exposure, testing of health care workers for anti-HBc in the Belize and Stann Creek districts in southern Belize before hepatitis B immunization would result in vaccine program cost savings.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiological Research Center, Ministry of Health, Belize City, Belize.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakre
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cruess
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001531:Belize / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000191:economics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines