Hepatitis B Catch-Up Project: analysis of 1999 data from the Chicago Public Schools.
OBJECTIVE
Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) children face an increased risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus infection. Since 1990, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended universal hepatitis B immunization for AAPI children. In 1997, Illinois passed a law requiring hepatitis B vaccination for school entry, but its implementation was restricted to pre-kindergarten and fifth-grade students. That same year, the Illinois Health Education Consortium (IHEC) began the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and community organizations. Schools targeted for IHEC intervention were those enrolling more than 100 (or over 20%) AAPI students. This study describes the effects of the Illinois law and the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project on hepatitis B immunization of AAPI students in the CPS in 1999.


METHODS
The effects of the IHEC Catch-Up Project intervention and the Illinois law upon hepatitis B immunization was tested using a two-way analysis of variance for the 1999-2000 cohort of AAPI students enrolled in the CPS as of November 1999.


RESULTS
Results indicated students required to receive hepatitis B immunization shots received a significantly (p < .001) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not required to receive the shots. Similarly, IHEC-intervention students received a significantly (p < .001 ) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not part of the IHEC intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The IHEC intervention produced a significant, positive effect on the hepatitis B immunization rate above and beyond the state law. The practical significance of the IHEC intervention is described and discussed.
Liu
H
H
Chicago Health Consortium/AHEC, 905 S. Wolcott Ave., 2nd Floor M/C 802, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Hynes
K
K
Lim
J M
JM
Chung
H I
HI
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001213:Asian; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014611:Vaccination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines