Hepatitis B Catch-Up Project: analysis of 1999 data from the Chicago Public Schools.

PURPOSE

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) children face an increased risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus infection. Since 1990, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended universal hepatitis B immunization for AAPI children. In 1997, Illinois passed a law requiring hepatitis B vaccination for school entry, but its implementation was restricted to pre-kindergarten and fifth-grade students. That same year, the Illinois Health Education Consortium (IHEC) began the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and community organizations. Schools targeted for IHEC intervention were those enrolling more than 100 (or over 20%) AAPI students. This study describes the effects of the Illinois law and the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project on hepatitis B immunization of AAPI students in the CPS in 1999.

METHODOLOGY

The effects of the IHEC Catch-Up Project intervention and the Illinois law upon hepatitis B immunization was tested using a two-way analysis of variance for the 1999-2000 cohort of AAPI students enrolled in the CPS as of November 1999.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Results indicated students required to receive hepatitis B immunization shots received a significantly (p < .001) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not required to receive the shots. Similarly, IHEC-intervention students received a significantly (p < .001 ) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not part of the IHEC intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The IHEC intervention produced a significant, positive effect on the hepatitis B immunization rate above and beyond the state law. The practical significance of the IHEC intervention is described and discussed.