Identifying target groups for a potential vaccination program during a hepatitis A communitywide outbreak.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to identify groups for targeted vaccination during a communitywide hepatitis A outbreak in 1996.


METHODS
Residents of the Sioux City, Iowa, metropolitan area reported with hepatitis A between September 1995 and August 1996 were sampled and compared with population-based controls.


RESULTS
In comparison with 51 controls, the 40 case patients were more likely to inject methamphetamine, to attend emergency rooms more often than other health care facilities, and to have a family member who used the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.


CONCLUSIONS
Groups at increased risk of hepatitis A can be identified that might be [corrected] accessed for vaccination during communitywide outbreaks.
Hutin
Y J
YJ
Hepatitis Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Bell
B P
BP
Marshall
K L
KL
Schaben
C P
CP
Dart
M
M
Quinlisk
M P
MP
Shapiro
C N
CN
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D014504:Urban Health; D014611:Vaccination