Seroprevalence of hepatitis A among children of different socioeconomic status in Cairo.
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES.
Salama
I I
II
Department of Community Medicine Research, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
Samy
S M
SM
Shaaban
F A
FA
Hassanin
A I
AI
Abou Ismail
L A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase