The Epidemiology of Hepatitis A Virus Infection in Children, in Edirne, Turkey

Turkey is a middle endemic area with respect to Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. However, the frequency of this infection varies due to socio-economic differences in various regions. The aim of this study was to detect the most likely age of exposure to HAV and factors affecting infection rates am...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of epidemiology 2004, Vol.19 (3), p.267-273
Main Authors: Erdoǧan, Mehmet Sarper, Otkun, Metin, Tatman-Otkun, Muserref, Akata, Filiz, Türe, Mevlut
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age groups
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Children
Children & youth
Economics
Education
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Female
Health risks
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A - epidemiology
Hepatitis A - prevention & control
Hepatitis A Vaccines - administration & dosage
Hepatitis A virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Income
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infections
Infectious Diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Mothers
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Regression analysis
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomics
Turkey - epidemiology
Vaccination
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the digestive system
Viral hepatitis
Viruses
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Summary:Turkey is a middle endemic area with respect to Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. However, the frequency of this infection varies due to socio-economic differences in various regions. The aim of this study was to detect the most likely age of exposure to HAV and factors affecting infection rates among children living in Edirne. A sample of 645 children between the ages of 0-19 living in Edirne were tested for total anti-HAV levels using ELISA method. A questionnaire on socio-economic status (SES), possible risk factors, and place of residence was completed for each child. Anti-HAV seropositivity was found to be 4.4, 25, 37.3 and 43.2%, in 2-5, 6-10, 11-14 and 15-19 age groups, respectively. Seropositivity was found to be increasing with age (p < 0.05). According to logistic regression analysis results; mother's education, SES of family, history of hepatitis in primary family members and the number of brothers or sisters were determined as factors increasing the seropositivity of HAV. Furthermore, HAV infection risk was found to be a decreasing function of income that is higher the income less likely the infection. These results showed that HAV infection rate in Edirne is in middle endemicity and the most likely way of exposure is transmission from family members. Although it requires further cost-effectiveness studies, our results indicate that applying the HAV vaccination in early childhood would be beneficial to decrease the prevalence of the infection and prevent HAV epidemics.
ISSN:0393-2990
1573-7284
DOI:10.1023/B:EJEP.0000020344.55498.1d