Seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A (anti-HAV) in Singapore: the NFDD experience

Singapore Med J. 1995 Feb;36(1):26-7.

Abstract

At the 4th National Foundation for Digestive Disease (NFDD) Day in 1991 where public lectures on prevention of hepatitis and early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma were given, screening of sera obtained from 364 registrants for antibodies to Hepatitis A (IgG) was undertaken. The overall sero-prevalence rate was 50%, with 55% for males and 46% for females with antibodies for HAV. None of the subjects below 20 years old had antibodies to HAV. This rose to 16% for those 21-30 years old and 92% for those above 61 years. This study shows that in Singapore, prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies rise with age and is approaching the low endemicity pattern that is seen in developed countries.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / immunology*
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Singapore / epidemiology

Substances

  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Hepatitis Antibodies