title: A population-based hepatitis B seroprevalence and risk factor study in a northern Ontario town.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine a) population-based hepatitis B seroprevalence rates; and b) associated behavioural risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A remote northern Ontario town with a cluster of hepatitis B cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous blood testing linked with risk-factor questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  635 persons aged 14 to 30 years (51% of the eligible age cohort) donated blood in return for free vaccination; four were anti-HBs positive, and none was HBsAg positive. In all, 19% of participants reported two or more sexual partners in the previous year, 6% reported at least one tattooing in the previous year, and 1% reported illicit injection drug use. Of persons with multiple sexual partners 84% did not consistently use condoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the serological results of the original cluster (and contacts) were considered, the age cohort's HBsAg seroprevalence rate was estimated to be between 0.24% and 0.47%. While the serosurvey did not discover additional HBsAg positive cases, there was great potential for heterosexual transmission.
authors.affiliation: Brant County Health Unit, ON.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schabas
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nalezyty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens