title: Methodology of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of prevalence and epidemiological patterns of hepatitis A, B and C infection in Brazil.
abstract: A population-based survey to provide information on the prevalence of hepatitis viral infection and the pattern of risk factors was carried out in the urban population of all Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District, between 2005 and 2009. This paper describes the design and methodology of the study which involved a population aged 5 to 19 for hepatitis A and 10 to 69 for hepatitis B and C. Interviews and blood samples were obtained through household visits. The sample was selected using stratified multi-stage cluster sampling and was drawn with equal probability from each domain of study (region and age-group). Nationwide, 19,280 households and ~31,000 residents were selected. The study is large enough to detect prevalence of viral infection around 0.1% and risk factor assessments within each region. The methodology seems to be a viable way of differentiating between distinct epidemiological patterns of hepatitis A, B and C. These data will be of value for the evaluation of vaccination policies and for the design of control program strategies.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Pernambuco, Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Arraes de Alencar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ximenes
authors.forename: Leila Maria Beltrão
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Celina Maria Turchi
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merchán-Hamann
authors.forename: Airton Tetelbom
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Gerusa Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Maria Cynthia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Ulisses Ramos
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Montarroyos
authors.forename: Leila Melo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Marília Dalva
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Turchi
authors.forename: José Carlos Ferraz da
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Maria Luiza Carvalho de
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Luis Cláudio Arraes de
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coral
authors.forename: Regina Celia
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Maria Regina Alves
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult