Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

Authors

  • Alice Unah Lee University of Sydney, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Hospital Road Concord, Sydney, Australia
  • Luke Mair Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, United Kingdom
  • Bob Kevin Popondetta General Hospital, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea
  • Lily Gandi Siroga Clinic, New Britain Palm Oil Company, Ltd, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea
  • Olive Tarumuri Siroga Clinic, New Britain Palm Oil Company, Ltd, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea
  • Caroline Lee Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia
  • Sue Huntley Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia
  • David Carl Hilmers Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (TX), USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.3.001

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects over 250 million people worldwide. In Papua New Guinea, the prevalence of CHB has been estimated to be over 8%, and it is a leading cause of death. To address this problem, an alliance was formed between the government of Oro Province, a large private employer and an Australian nongovernmental organization, which established a CHB test and treatment programme. Between 2014 and 2019, rapid hepatitis B surface antigen testing was performed on 4068 individuals in Oro Province. The crude prevalence rate was 12.98% and was significantly higher in males (15.26%) than females (10.94%) (P < 0.001). The rate was 4.72% among children aged 10 years and under, 12.81% among women of childbearing age (19–35 years) and 18.48% among health-care workers. These results indicate that the rates of vaccination at birth and later among women of childbearing age and health-care workers must be improved to prevent transmission of CHB.

Author Biographies

  • Alice Unah Lee, University of Sydney, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Hospital Road Concord, Sydney, Australia

    Associate Professor, University of Sydney, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver services

  • Luke Mair, Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Fellow, Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine

  • Bob Kevin, Popondetta General Hospital, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea

    Registrar, Popondetta General Hospital, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

  • Lily Gandi, Siroga Clinic, New Britain Palm Oil Company, Ltd, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea

    Physician, Siroga Clinic, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea

  • Olive Tarumuri, Siroga Clinic, New Britain Palm Oil Company, Ltd, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea

    Clinic Director, Siroga Clinic, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea

  • Caroline Lee, Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia

    Physician, Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia

  • Sue Huntley, Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia
    Nurse and Director, Hepatitis B Free, Sydney, Australia
  • David Carl Hilmers, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (TX), USA

    Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

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Published

16-12-2020

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2020): October ‒ December

Section

Surveillance Report

How to Cite

1.
Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 16 [cited 2026 Apr. 8];11(4):4. Available from: https://ojs-dev.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/764

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