title: The New Zealand Hepatitis B Screening Programme: screening coverage and prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on screening coverage and the distribution of HBsAg (a marker of chronic hepatitis B virus infection) among participants in the New Zealand Hepatitis B Screening Programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coverage and crude and age-standardised prevalence rates of HBsAg by age group, sex, ethnic group, and region were calculated from data held by the two providers and the New Zealand 2001 Census.
  
  
  RESULTS
  177,000 people were tested for hepatitis B virus infection (51% of the programme targets and 27% of Census 2001 eligible population), with highest coverage among women (28.9%) and Pacific people (34.9%). Overall, 5.7% (10,176) of participants were HBsAg-positive and there were significant regional, ethnic group, and gender differences. 5.6% of Maori, 7.3% of Pacific people, and 6.2% of Asians were HBsAg-positive, and men were more likely to test HBsAg-positive (6.1%) than women (5.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous estimates of HBsAg prevalence among Maori and Pacific people from smaller surveys were confirmed and new information obtained about the distribution of hepatitis B virus infection among Pacific Islands and Asian populations in New Zealand. Opportunistic screening of adults in these populations should continue in order to identify others with (as yet undetected) infection. Regular follow-up of people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection should also continue. Ongoing outcome monitoring is now needed to judge whether this unique programme has been an effective component of New Zealand's hepatitis B control strategy and whether it is a worthwhile investment of resources.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Projects Trust, Auckland.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bullen
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Humphries
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornell
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moyes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens