title: Hepatitis B surface antigen seroprevalence among children in Papua New Guinea, 2012-2013.
abstract: Approximately 8% of the population in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To decrease the burden of chronic HBV infection, a national 3-dose infant hepatitis B vaccination program was implemented starting in 1989, with a birth dose (BD) added to the schedule in 1992. To assess the impact of the hepatitis B vaccination program, we conducted a serosurvey among children born after vaccine introduction. During 2012-2013, a cross-sectional stratified four-stage cluster survey was conducted to estimate hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence among children 4-6 years of age. We collected demographic data, vaccination history, and tested children for HBsAg. Of 2,133 participants, 2,130 children had vaccination data by either card or recall: 28% received a BD; 81% received ≥ 3 vaccine doses. Of 2,109 children providing a blood sample, 60 (2.3%) tested positive for HBsAg. This is the largest, most geographically diverse survey of hepatitis B vaccination and HBsAg seroprevalence done in PNG. Progress has been made in PNG toward the Western Pacific Regional goal to reduce the prevalence of chronic HBV infection to < 1% by 2017 among 5-year-old children. Vaccination efforts should be strengthened, including increasing BD coverage and completing the 3-dose series.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Russel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitau
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea dattas@wpro.who.int drsiddharthasdatta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Siddhartha Sankar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Minal K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hennessey
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wannemuehler
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Expanded Programme on Immunization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines; Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lagani
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines