title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection in the Turkish population in Northern Cyprus.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Turkish population in Northern Cyprus. The secondary aim of this study was to assess the impact of the universal infant hepatitis B vaccination program, which started in 1998. A total of 600 persons 1- to 30-years-old were selected for the study with cluster sampling. The information on sociodemographic characteristics was gathered for each participant and in 585 of them, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs) and anticore antibody (anti-HBc) were tested. The overall prevalence of anti-HBc and HBsAg carriage was 13.2% and 0.85%, respectively. Old age and low parental educational level were the major independent risk factors for HBV transmission. Seroprevalence of both anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibodies was similar in children 1-7 years of age. After 8 years of age, anti-HBc seroprevalence increased significantly with age, while anti-HBs prevalence decreased (p<0.001). Anti-HBc prevalence increased from 7.0% in children aged 1-7 years to 17.9% in persons aged 16-20 years. None of the children under 12 years of age were HBsAg-positive, while 1.9% of persons aged 16-20 years were HBsAg carriers. Anti-HBs seroprevalence exceeding 90% was found in the cohorts targeted by the routine hepatitis B vaccination program, whereas 36.4% of young adults aged 21-30 years were anti-HBs-positive. The study shows that universal infant hepatitis B immunization has a substantial impact on the immunity in children. However, prevalence of HBV infection is still high in adolescent and young adults in Northern Cyprus. Therefore, catch-up immunization for these groups will help to reduce hepatitis B transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurugöl
authors.forename: Güldane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koturoğlu
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akşit
authors.forename: Tijen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozacar
authors.forename: Sidika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kayimbaşoğlu
authors.forename: Sonay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozbalikçi
authors.forename: Gülten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erçal
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Güllüelli
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakkaloğlu
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Garabli
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erçal
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens