[Hepatitis B virus vaccination rate with immunization].
The hepatitis B virus is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, thus making it a serious public health issue. The purpose of this study was to determine the hepatitis B virus vaccination rate with immunization, the risk of this population group becoming infected before vaccination and the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. The study involved randomly analyzing the serum of 311 adolescents of both sexes aged 14 from a total population of 536 adolescents attending schools in Braga, Portugal. A questionnaire was administered to the adolescents and asked them if they had received the Hepatitis B vaccine, how many doses they received, if they had a history of acute hepatitis, drug abuse, whether or not they had had sexual intercourse and if so, if they had used protection. The determination of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), the antibody to HbsAg and the antibody to hepatitis B core antigen was carried out using the chemoluminiscence method. The vaccination rate with immunization was 85.8 %, [95% CI 81.9-89.7%]. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 0.6%, [95% CI 0-1.5%].


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was low in this adolescent population of Braga. The vaccination rate with immunization is satisfactory, but does not reach 100%, which means that the risk of transmission is still present in this age group.
Antunes
Henedina
H
Serviços de Pediatria e de Patologia Clínica. Hospital de São Marcos, Braga.
Macedo
Mónica
M
Estrada
Alexandra
A
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines