Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis A among Montreal street youth
Elise Roy1, Nancy Haley, Pascale Leclerc
1Montreal Regional Public Health Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC. eroy@santepub-mtl.qc.ca
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies among Montreal street youth.
Method:
Anti-HAV antibody testing was performed on blood samples from a hepatitis B and C study conducted among street youth in 1995-96.
Results:
Among the 427 youth aged 14 to 25 years, prevalence of HAV antibodies was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9%-7.2%). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that birth in a country with a high anti-HAV prevalence (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 200.7; 95% CI: 38.1-1058.4), having had sexual partner(s) with history of unspecified hepatitis (AOR: 13.8; 95% CI: 4.2-45.2), and insertive anal penetration (AOR: 5.1; 95% CI: 1.6-16.7) were independently associated with infection.
Conclusion:
Based on the relatively low HAV prevalence, the high prevalence of risk factors for infection, and the substantial hepatitis B and C prevalence, vaccination against hepatitis A is now actively promoted among Montreal street youth.
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