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Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: transmission patterns and vaccine control

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Abebe, A., Nokes, D. James, Dejene, A., Enquselassie, F., Messele, T. and Cutts, Felicity. (2003) Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: transmission patterns and vaccine control. Epidemiology and Infection, Vol.13 (No.1). pp. 757-770. ISSN 0950-2688

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268803008574

Abstract

A community-based seroepidemiological survey of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was conducted in 1994 to inform on the transmission dynamics and control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Venous blood from 4736 individuals under 50 years of age from 1262 households, selected using stratified cluster-sampling, was screened for HBV markers using commercial ELISAs. HBsAg prevalence was 7% (95% CI 6–8), higher in males (9%; 7–10) than females (5%; 4–6). HBeAg prevalence in HBsAg positives was 23% (18–29), and less than 1% of women of childbearing age were HBeAg positive. Overall HBV seroprevalence (any marker), rose steadily with age to over 70% in 40–49 year olds, indicating significant childhood and adult transmission. Estimated instantaneous incidence was 3–4/100 susceptibles/year, higher in males than females in 0–4 year olds, and peaking in early childhood and young adults. The age at which 50% had evidence of infection was around 20 years, and the herd immunity threshold is approximated at 63–77%. Addis Ababa is of intermediate-high HBV endemicity, with negligible perinatal transmission. Our main findings are the identification of a significant difference between males and females in the age-acquisition of HBV infection, and marked differences between age groups in HBV incidence rates. These results should target future research studies of underlying risk factors. Furthermore, we generate a crude estimate of the level of coverage of HBV vaccine that would be required to eliminate the virus from the study population.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

R Medicine > RB Pathology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Hepatitis B -- Ethiopia, Epidemiology -- Research -- Ethiopia, Hepatitis B -- Vaccination -- Ethiopia, Public health -- Research -- Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) -- Social conditions

Journal or Publication Title:

Epidemiology and Infection

Publisher:

Cambridge University Press

ISSN:

0950-2688

Official Date:

August 2003

Dates:

Date	Event
August 2003	Published

Volume:

Vol.13

Number:

No.1

Page Range:

pp. 757-770

Identification Number:

10.1017/S0950268803008574

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

Funder:

Wellcome Trust (London, England)

Grant number:

039056 (Wellcome)

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