A survey of HBsAg and anti-HBs positive young adults

Shin, Nam Cheol; Bae, Seong Tae; Kim, Sun Mi; Oh, Sei Kyeong; Yun, Do Kyeong; Cho, Kyung Hwan; Hong, Myung Ho; Lee, Chang Hong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is well known that Korea is one of the endemic areas for viral hepatitis B and those who are positive for HBsAg has been reported to be about 5-10% in Korea. Since the 1980s, research and population education for prevention and vaccination for hepatitis B were implemented in Korea. Therefore, we predicted that the positive rates of HBsAg and Anti-HBs have changed since then. Young adults are considered to be the main candidates for hepatitis B vaccination, and the change in the rate of prevalence of HBsAg and Anti-HBs has been investigated in this study.
METHODS
We surveyed 3760 freshmen who were positive for HBsAg and Anti-HBs who were in 1998. HBsAg and Anti-HBs was tested by RPHA/PHA.
RESULTS
3760 students included 2780 males and 980 females(mean age 19.44 years). Among them, 128(3.4%) was positive for HBsAg and 2488(66.2%) was positive for Anti-HBs. The positive rate of HBsAg was 105(3.8%) and that of Anti-HBs was 179(64.7%) among 2780 male students. The positive rate of HBsAg was 23(2.3%) and that of Anti-HBs was 691(70.5%) among 980 female students.
CONCLUSIONS
As compared with previous prevalence studies of HBsAg and Anti-HBs, the positive rate of HBsAg was decreased and that of Anti-HBs was increased. The researchers hope that farther study is necessary using wider range of subjects.