Risk behaviors for hepatitis B high, vaccination remains low among adults

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Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Posted July 15, 2010

Risk behaviors for hepatitis B high, vaccination remains low among adults

Submit a CommentEmailPrintATLANTA — Hepatitis B vaccination rates among adults

remain stagnant, even though about one-fifth of 18- to 44-year-olds have

reported engaging in behaviors that place them at higher risk for infection,

data presented at the 2010 International Conference on Emerging Infectious

Diseases suggest.

An estimated 43,000 new hepatitis B virus infections occurred during 2007,

according to CDC researchers, with most appearing in unvaccinated adults with

multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men and injection drug users.

To investigate the prevalence of these risk behaviors among adults aged 18 to 44

years, the researchers reviewed nationally representative data on sexual

behaviors and drug use from population-based surveys — including the National

Survey of Family Growth, the General Social Survey and the National Survey on

Drug Use and Health — conducted between 2000 and 2008. The researchers applied

this information to 2009 U.S. Census data to determine the proportion of the

population engaging in risk behaviors for HBV.

Analysis yielded the following results for adults aged 18 to 44 years during the

past year:

•16.5% to 19.3% had at least two sexual partners.

•0.2% to 0.4% had used illicit drugs by injection.

•5% to 6% of men had ever had a male sex partner..

Overall estimates revealed that 19.3% to 22.8% of U.S. adults in this age group

reported risk behaviors that indicate immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine.

This information should aid physicians and public health officials in setting

aside an appropriate amount of resources and improving programs that offer and

promote hepatitis B vaccination, the researchers said. – by

For more information:

•Reilly ML. #3. Presented at: 2010 International Conference on Emerging

Infectious Diseases; July 11-14, 2010; Atlanta.

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