Research Article

Low Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Markers among Children and Adolescents

Table 1

Hepatitis B and C virus markers among children and adolescents attending six institutions in Rio de Janeiro State ( = 1,217).

Number testedHBsAg−
anti-HBc+
anti-HBs+
HBsAg−
anti-HBc+
anti-HBs−
HBsAg−
anti-HBc−
anti-HBs+
HBsAg+
anti-HBc−
anti-HBs−
HBsAg+
anti-HBc+
anti-HBs−
HBsAg−
anti-HBc−
anti-HBs−
anti-HCV+
HCV RNA+

Total population studied1217 (100%)15 (1.2%)29 (2.4%)293 (24.1%)18 (1.5%)4 (0.3%)855 (70.3%)3 (0.2%)
Sex
 Female628 (51.6%)7 (46.7%)16 (55.2%)161 (54.9%)6 (33.3%)2 (50%)434 (50.8%)1 (33.3%)
 Male589 (48.4%)8 (53.3%)13 (44.8%)132 (45.1%)12 (66.6%)2 (50%)421 (49.2%)2 (66.6%)
Age group (years)
 0–236 (2.9%)1 (6.7%)0 (0%)24 (8.2%)1 (5.5%)1 (25%)9 (1.0%)0 (0.0%)
 3–6221 (18.2%)1 (6.7%)3 (10.3%)87 (29.7%)2 (11.1%)1 (25%)126 (14.7%)0 (0.0%)
 7–11369 (30.3%)7 (46.6%)8 (27.6%)53 (18.1%)8 (44.4%)1 (25%)290 (33.9%)2 (66.6%)
 12–15513 (42.2%)6 (40%)18 (62.1%)97 (33.1%)7 (38.9%)1 (25%)384 (44.9%)0 (0.0%)
 16–1878 (6.4%)0 (0.0%)0 (0.0%)32 (10.9%)0 (0.0%)0 (0.0%)46 (5.4%)1 (33.3%)
Period of HBV vaccination available at public health units*
 Group 1 885 (72.7%)11 (73.3%)28 (96.5%)44 (15.0%)18 (100.0%)2 (50.0%)782 (91.5%)3 (100.0%)
 Group 2 332 (27.3%)4 (26.7%)1 (3.5%)249 (85.0%)0 (0.0%)2 (50.0%)73 (8.5%)0 (0.0%)

HBV vaccination available at public health units before 2001 (Group 1) and HBV vaccination available at public health units as of 2001 (Group 2).