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Epidemiological factors affecting hepatitis a seroprevalence in childhood in a developing country

Sevin Altınkaynak1, Mukadder Ayşe Selimoğlu2, Vildan Ertekin3

  • 1Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Sakarya, Turkey.

The Eurasian Journal of Medicine
|January 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is highly prevalent in Eastern Turkish children, with over 59% testing positive. Key risk factors include older age, rural living, and lower socioeconomic status, highlighting a critical need for increased HAV vaccination.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Hepatitis A virus (HAV) poses a significant public health concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated socio-epidemiological factors of HAV is crucial for targeted intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in children aged 0-18 years in Eastern Turkey.
  • To identify socio-epidemiological factors influencing HAV infection rates within this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 226 children aged 0-18 years.
  • Hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity was assessed using ELISA.
  • Data on age, gender, settlement area, socioeconomic status, and vaccination history were collected.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of HAV IgG seropositivity was 59.7% among the studied children.
  • HAV prevalence increased with age and was significantly higher in children from rural areas and lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Vaccination rates were very low (less than 1%), with no significant difference in seropositivity between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis A virus infection is highly prevalent in children in Erzurum, Eastern Turkey.
  • Age, rural settlement, and lower socioeconomic status are significant predictors of HAV infection.
  • The low rate of HAV vaccination underscores the need for public health initiatives to improve immunization coverage.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenHepatitis ASeroepidemiology

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