Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 1997 - Volume 119, Issue 02  


Short Communication

SHORT PAPER

The declining HBsAg carriage rate in pregnant women in Hong Kong

L. C. KWAN a1, Y. Y. HO a2 and S. S. LEE a1
a1 Viral Hepatitis Preventive Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong
a2 Regional Health Office (Hong Kong), Department of Health, Hong Kong

Abstract

The HBsAg status and demographic data of 2480 pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics at Maternal and Child Health Centres in Hong Kong were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire over a 1-week period in July 1996, to explore the underlying reason of a higher than expected HBsAg prevalence. Local women constituted 49·2% of the sample, mainland Chinese 39·7% and others 11·1%. The overall HBsAg prevalence was 10·0%. When related to place of birth, those born in Hong Kong had a prevalence of 8·4% whereas the prevalence of those born in mainland China was 13·1% (P<0·001). The overall HBsAg carriage rate is high because of a higher rate in immigrants in the community. It is apparent that the HBsAg prevalence of local people in Hong Kong has been decreasing in the past decade. Overall, the current HBsAg carriage rate in the local adult population is estimated to have declined to about 8%.

(Accepted May 28 1997)


Correspondence:
Author for correspondence: Dr S. S. Lee, Viral Hepatitis Preventive Service, 5/F, Yaumatei Jockey Club Clinic, Battery Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

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