Al Humayed S M, El-Mekki A A, Mahfouz A A
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Clinical Microbiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Public Health. 2017 May;146:24-28. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.01.004. Epub 2017 Feb 2.
The present study was designed as a large-scale cross-sectional study to cast some light on the magnitude of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Aseer Region, south-western Saudi Arabia, a region reported to be of the highest endemicity.
During the WHO hepatitis day of 2013, an aggressive health education campaign was launched in all the hospitals and primary health care centres in Aseer Region. Posters were distributed to encourage the local population to visit the health facilities to be tested for HBV. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was done using a fourth-generation ELISA kits.
The present study included 10,234 persons. The study revealed an overall seroprevalence of 5.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.5-6.4%). A seroprevalence of 0.8% (95% CI = 0.2-2.1%) was found among persons aged less than 15 years, and a seroprevalence of 1.3% (95% CI = 0.4-2.9%) was found among persons aged 15-24 years. On the other hand, among persons aged 25 years and over (who were born before the expanded programme on immunization [EPI]), a seroprevalence of 6.3% (95% CI = 5.8-6.8%) was found. Pockets of unvaccinated individuals were identified.
The present study has documented the efficacy of vaccination in protecting against HBV infection. It also identified the presence of pockets of unvaccinated persons requiring further investigations. Aggressive health education programmes and 'catch-up' mass vaccination of those aged over 25 years is mandatory.
本研究设计为一项大规模横断面研究，以阐明沙特阿拉伯西南部阿西尔地区乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染的程度，该地区据报道是乙肝流行率最高的地区。
在2013年世界卫生组织肝炎日期间，在阿西尔地区的所有医院和初级卫生保健中心开展了积极的健康教育活动。分发海报以鼓励当地居民前往卫生机构进行HBV检测。使用结构化问卷对他们进行访谈。使用第四代酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）试剂盒检测乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）。
本研究纳入了10234人。研究显示总体血清阳性率为5.9%（95%置信区间[CI]=5.5 - 6.4%）。15岁以下人群的血清阳性率为0.8%（95%CI = 0.2 - 2.1%），15 - 24岁人群的血清阳性率为1.3%（95%CI = 0.4 - 2.9%）。另一方面，在25岁及以上（在扩大免疫规划[EPI]之前出生）的人群中，血清阳性率为6.3%（95%CI = 5.8 - 6.8%）。发现了未接种疫苗的人群。
本研究记录了疫苗接种在预防HBV感染方面的效果。它还确定了存在需要进一步调查的未接种疫苗人群。必须开展积极的健康教育计划，并对25岁以上人群进行“补种”大规模疫苗接种。
