Prevalence of hepatitis B in childbearing Southeast Asian refugees in the Salt Lake area

Over 7,000 Southeast Asian refugees live in the Salt Lake area. The hepatitis B carrier rate among Southeast Asians in the United States is 12-14%. A retrospective study was conducted to obtain data concerning the prevalence of hepatitis B virus among Southeast Asian prenatal clients. The study sample consisted of 129 charts reviewed from two Salt Lake area clinics. The time period included all the Southeast Asian women receiving prenatal care who delivered in 1984 and those delivered or undelivered who had prenatal blood drawn prior to February 28, 1985. Demographic data revealed the sample to be between the ages of 15 and 44 years. Ninety-six percent were married and 60% were Cambodian. Of the 129 charts reviewed, 75 (58%) were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). There was no significant difference by clinic in the percentage of subjects tested. Among the 75 subjects screened for HBsAg, 7 were HBsAg positive. The prevalance of HBsAg among Southeast Asians screened in this study was 9.3%. Inconsistent management of the HBsAg positive subjects and their infants has been noted. The findings of this study suggest that an inadequate number of Southeast Asians are being screened for hepatitis, and that further research in this area is warranted.