Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among the hill tribe youths, northern Thailand

Abstract

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major viral infection, particularly in people living in the Western Pacific region, including the hill tribe people living in northern Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV infection and to detect the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe youths in Thailand.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe youths living in northern Thailand. A validated questionnaire and 5 mL blood sample were used for data collection. The Wondfo Diagnostic Kit®, the Wondfo One Step HBsAg Serum/Plasma Test®, and the Wondfo One Step HBsAg Serum/Plasma Test® were used for anti-HBsAg, HBsAg, and total anti-HBc detections, respectively. Logistic regression was used to detect associations between variables with an α = 0.05 significance level.ResultsA total of 836 participants were included in the study; 62.7% were female, 58.9% were aged 15–17 years, 58.7% were Buddhist, 78.4% graduated high school, and 89.1% had no income. The majority were Akha (30.0%), Yao (16.3%), and Hmong (15.8%); 13.2% smoked, 21.5% used alcohol, 13.3% had tattoos, 3.9% experienced drug injection from illegal practitioners, and 35.7% had no history of HBV immunization. The prevalence of HBsAg was 3.0%; anti-HBs, 10.2%; and total anti-HBc, 8.1%. In the multivariate analysis, four variables were found to be significantly associated with HBV infection among the hill tribe youths: age, tribe, work experience, and number of partners. Those aged 18–20 years and 21–24 years had 2.13 times (95%CI = 1.35–3.29) and 2.39 times (95%CI = 1.05–3.90) greater odds of HBV infection, respectively, than those aged 15–17 years. Akha, Lahu, and Hmong youths had 3.12 times (95%CI = 1.07–9.12), 3.71 times (95%CI = 1.21–11.41), and 3.84 times (95%CI = 1.26–11.69) greater odds of HBV infection, respectively, than Lisu youths. Those who had experience working outside of the village had a 1.77 times (95%CI = 1.18–2.98) greater chance of HBV infection than those who did not have experience working outside of the village, and those who had ≥2 partners had a 2.66 times (95%CI = 1.96–3.87) greater chance of HBV infection than those who had no partner.ConclusionsEffective HBV prevention programs should be promoted in Akha, Lahu, and Hmong youth populations, particularly to those who have sexual partners, work outside of the village and are aged 18–24 years.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B infection among the hill tribe adult population in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

“…A study in the United States [38] also demonstrated that some groups of people had a greater risk of HBV infection than others did. Apidechkul [20] also confirmed that some hill tribe youths had a greater chance of HBV infection than others did. While having looked more closely into some behaviors such as alcohol use, tattooed, and ear piecing, it was found that the Lisu (20.6%) had a greater proportion of having tattooed than the Karen (17.7%) and Yao (9.6%), but the Yao (67.1%) had a greater proportion of having ear piecing than the Karen (59.8%) and Lisu (39.7%).…”

“…The prevalence of HBV infection among the hill tribe adult populations was 26.6%, and the hepatitis B surface carrier rate was 7.6%, which are greater than the rates of these makers among the hill tribe aged 15-24 years, 3.0, 10.2, and 8.1%, respectively [20]. This might be the impact of the HBV immunization implementation in Thailand which has been introduced since 1992 [26,27].…”

“…The sample size was calculated from the standard formula of a cross-sectional study (Z = 1.96, P = 0.13 [20], Q = 0.87 and e = 0.05); therefore, at least 246 participants in each tribe were required for the analysis. Thus, a minimum of 1475 participants were needed in the whole study.…”

“…Unfortunately, the hill tribe people are living in the era of HBV vaccine implementation in Thailand, but the prevalence estimates of hepatitis B surface carrier (HBsAg) and the total hepatitis B infection were reported to be higher among the hill tribe people than in the Thai population in the same age category at 10.3% [20]. With the specific history of those in the hill tribes who migrated from China, which has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B infection in the world [21], and given these individuals' very limited access to health care services, the hill tribe population in Thailand is at risk of hepatitis B infection.…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk Factors among Adolescents and Youth in Secondary School in 2018, Commune of Covè, Benin

“…HBV seroprevalence was 6% and male subjects elder than 17 years old with secondary-level education were mainly affected [10]. Age, gender, geographic region, socioeconomic status, immunization status, lifestyle, sanitation and hygiene, and their relative contributions can influence the prevalence of HBV infection [11] [12]. Among the interventions carried out by Benin country, there were: 1) the introduction in 2002 of the hepatitis B vaccine, systematic and free of charge for children from 0 to 11 months of age within the framework of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) [9], and the 2) the promulgation of law 2017-28 on the prevention, management and control of hepatitis B and C in the Republic of Benin adopted on September 14, 2017 [13].…”