Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 21, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 39-46

Evaluation of Hepatitis B Virus Screening, Vaccination, and Linkage to Care Among Newly Arrived Refugees in Four States, 2009–2011 (Article)

Mitruka K.* , Pezzi C. , Baack B. , Burke H. , Cochran J. , Matheson J. , Urban K. , Ramos M. , Byrd K.
  • a Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • b Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • d Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, United States
  • g Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN, United States
  • h Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • i Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

Many U.S.-bound refugees originate from countries with intermediate or high hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalence and have risk for severe liver disease. We evaluated HBV screening and vaccination of newly arrived refugees in four states to identify program improvement opportunities. Data on HBV testing at domestic health assessments (1/1/2009–12/31/2011) were abstracted from state refugee health surveillance systems. Logistic regression identified correlates of infection. Over 95% of adults aged ≥19 years (N = 24,647) and 50% of children (N = 12,249) were tested. Among 32,107 refugees with valid results, the overall infection prevalence was 2.9% (0.76–9.25%); HBV prevalence reflected the burden in birth countries. Birth in the Western Pacific region carried the greatest infection risk (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.8, CI 2.9, 7.9). Care linkage for infection was unconfirmed. Of 7409 susceptible persons, 38% received 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Testing children, documenting care linkage, and completing 3-dose vaccine series were opportunities for improvement. © 2018, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.

Author Keywords

Hepatitis B virus Refugees Vaccination Screening

Index Keywords

patient care refugee mass screening Serologic Tests human epidemiology Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data Logistic Models ethnology Public Health Surveillance Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Infant Child, Preschool female socioeconomics Continuity of Patient Care prevalence organization and management Retrospective Studies program evaluation Hepatitis B Vaccines adult serology hepatitis B vaccine statistical model retrospective study hepatitis B Child health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060124418&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-018-0705-x&partnerID=40&md5=26c543841302a780b80f75227fef9ba5
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0705-x
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English