Arquivos de Gastroenterologia (Sep 2015)

INTERMEDIATE ENDEMICITY OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTION IN RURAL SETTLEMENT PROJECTS OF SOUTHWEST GOIÁS, BRAZIL

  • Raquel Silva PINHEIRO,
  • Lyriane Apolinário de ARAÚJO,
  • Karlla Antonieta Amorim CAETANO,
  • Marcos André de MATOS,
  • Megmar Aparecida dos Santos CARNEIRO,
  • Sheila Araújo TELES

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-28032015000300009
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 52, no. 3
pp. 200 – 203

Abstract

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BackgroundRural populations present an elevated risk of exposure to hepatitis A virus.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis A virus infection among residents of rural settlement projects of southwest Goiás, Central Brazil.MethodsA total of 466 residents were interviewed and tested for the detection of anti- hepatitis A virus antibodies by ELISA.ResultsThe global prevalence of anti- hepatitis A virus was 82.2%. In individuals aged 5-9 years and 10-19 years, the prevalence was 15% and 58.8%, respectively. Persons in the 10-19 age group, with a history of life in encampments, with more than five people per residence consuming well water, were predictors for exposure to hepatitis A virus.ConclusionOur results suggest that the hepatitis A virus endemicity in rural settlements in southwest Goiás similar to that found in the urban population of the Midwest Region, confirming the implementation of universal hepatitis A vaccination in children.

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