Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and C in Republic of Indonesia.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections pose serious problems in terms of public health and clinical intervention in a country with approximately 250 million people, who live in more than 17,000 islands. Efforts to combat HBV and HCV have been made through the implementation of universal infant hepatitis B immunization, blood screening, and other health promotion actions, and building epidemiological data to develop intervention strategies. A nationwide study in 2013 revealed hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence of 7.1%, which indicates that Indonesia has moved from high to moderate endemicity of hepatitis B, leaving the prevalence of 9.4% in 2007. The occurrences of new hepatitis B cases still continue in early childhood period, which may root from low coverage of birth-dose hepatitis B immunization in remote islands, and the potential mother-to-child transmission of HBV from HBsAg-positive pregnant mothers. Other problems still exist including the high HBV infection rates among young adults in remote islands, the presence of occult hepatitis B, as well as the substantial prevalence of HCV infection in general population, who do not have access to diagnosis and treatment. Effective preventive and control strategies are being developed tailored to the local capacity, infrastructures, socioeconomics, and culture, as well as geographical aspects of the country. Muljono DH. Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and C in Republic of Indonesia. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(1):55-59.