title: Hepatitis B in Rondônia (Western amazon region, Brazil): descriptive analysis and spatial distribution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Amazon is one of the regions who have the highest rates of infection by the hepatitis B virus in the world. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological data and spatial distribution of hepatitis B cases reported between 2002 and 2012 in the Brazilian State of Rondônia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Social and clinical data of these individuals were studied through the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), including the following variables: gender, age group, vaccination, contact with a known patient with HBV, exposure to risk factors, source of infection, and clinical status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 7,132 cases reported in Rondônia, with an average incidence rate of 42/100,000 inhabitants per year. The municipalities with the highest incidence rates were Monte Negro (187.6/100,000 inhabitants) and Ariquemes (157.2/100,000 inhabitants). The 20-39 year-old age group had the highest number of cases (n = 3,834), and 69.9% of patients were likely infected via sexual contact. Regarding the clinical disease status, most of the patients (80.7%) were in the chronic phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a recent 402% increase in the diagnosis of hepatitis B, which is likely owing to the improvements in the public diagnostic system. This highlights the need for public policies to prevent and control the disease.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gabriel de Deus
authors.initials: Gde D
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mayara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Florão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Karen Priscilla Oliveira
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Thaianne da Cunha
authors.initials: Tda C
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaiciunas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Rezende
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luís Marcelo Aranha
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Maciel de
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D063005:Health Information Systems; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult