title: Sero-epidemiological study of hepatitis A virus infection among hill-tribe youth and household environmental sanitation, a hill-tribe community in northern Thailand.
abstract: A cross-sectional analytic study of 190 hill-tribe youth in a community in the north of Thailand was conducted to investigate the sero-prevalence of HAV and factors related to positive anti-HAV antibody. The studied youth, whose ages ranged from 15 to 24 years, were interviewed about socio-economic status and personal hygiene. Blood specimens were collected to detect anti-HAV by ELISA commercial kit. Household environmental sanitation conditions were observed and drinking water samples were screened for bacterial contamination using SI2 medium. Following the anti-HAV assay, the studied youth were divided into two groups: anti-HAV positive, and anti-HAV negative. The studied variables of the two groups were analyzed by chi2 test to find factors related to anti-HAV positivity. The results revealed that 87% of the studied youth were positive for anti-HAV. There was no statistically significant difference between age group/gender and anti-HAV positivity, p = 0.46 and 0.16, respectively. Approximately 35.79 to 45.79% washed their hands with soap before preparing food, before eating and after using the latrine. About 88% did not improve the potability of their drinking water. The results of screening for bacterial contamination in drinking water samples found that 73.53% were contaminated with coliform bacteria. Factors related to positive anti-HAV antibody included monthly income, number of household members, use of latrine, hand-washing with soap after using latrine, household refuse management and control of insects and rodents; p = 0.04, 0.007, 0.013, 0.008, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively. The findings suggested that appropriate household environmental management should be improved in this community to reduce HAV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. pipatl@thaimail.com
authors.forename: Pipat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luksamijarulkul
authors.forename: Supranee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tongpradit
authors.forename: Pisit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vatanasomboon
authors.forename: Fuangfa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Utrarachkij
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012499:Sanitation; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology