title: Hepatitis B seroprevalence in persons attending youth clinics in Stockholm, Sweden in 2008.
abstract: Sweden is a low endemicity country for hepatitis B virus (HBV). The previously reported prevalence of chronic HBV is <1% and of overall markers <5%. HBV is not included in the universal childhood vaccination programme. Instead, selected high-risk groups are targeted. Our aim was to examine the HBV seroprevalence in youth clinic clients in Stockholm and identify if this population might be a new target group for vaccination. In total, 515 clients aged 18-22 years were recruited. They completed a risk-assessment questionnaire and 464 (90%) had a serum specimen tested for HBV serology. Chronic HBV was found in 0.6% and 0.9% had previously been infected with HBV. A seroprevalence of 1.8% HBV markers was found among non-vaccinated persons. This is lower than reported from other countries and not different from the general population in Sweden. However, in persons originating from HBV endemic countries (n = 123), the prevalence was higher, 6.5%. Only 14% were vaccinated and the majority hence susceptible to HBV. The target groups are not reached by the present vaccination strategy. Youth clinics are ideal settings for catch-up vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stenkvist
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lidbrink
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Sydow
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens