Seroepidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in Hong Kong
Seroepidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in Hong Kong
Immunisation policies have strong influences on the epidemiology of hepatitis A and B
 infection. In Hong Kong, vaccines against both viruses have been available through different
 channels and programmes in the past 3 decades. To evaluate the changes in the prevalence of
 hepatitis A and B in the general population, a seroepidemiology study is conducted involving
 a prospective cross-sectional survey followed for serology testing. Eligible members of 1327
 spatially random households would be invited to join the study by completing a questionnaire
 and providing blood samples, either by dried blood spots or venesection, for determining the
 presence of antigen and/or antibody against hepatitis B, as well as antibody against
 hepatitis A. The main measures comprise a set of metrics on the prevalence of hepatitis A and
 B. Analysis would be conducted to examine the association of risk factors with the tested
 markers and describe the attitudes towards viral hepatitis vaccination. The results would
 allow us to understand the transmission potential of hepatitis A and B in the community would
 be influenced by the changing disease epidemiology and coverage of vaccination, which inform
 the development of new vaccination strategies in Hong Kong
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  residents normally living in Hong Kong

 -  living in domestic households randomly selected from Building Groups

 -  Any age, while subjects below the age of 18 would require informed consent of their
 guardians for participation

 -  Any gender

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  unable to understand written Chinese or English,

 -  failure to give consent for participation

 -  living in institution or non-domestic housing,

 -  foreign domestic helpers,

 -  normally living in Hong Kong