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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Owen Simwale, MPH and Mark Wessner, RN. Health & Welfare Building, Pennsylvania Department of Health, 7th and Foster ST, Harrisburg, PA 17070, 717-817-5177, mwessner@state.pa.us

Background The advance of hepatitis b vaccine has resulted in substantial reductions in perinatal hepatititis B in the USA.In this study we present our surveillance data on the incidence of perinatal hepatitis b in Pennsylvania characterized by source of infection and race. We also documented access to care in terms of when the diagnosis first was made, when the pateint knew about the diagnosis and when medical evaluation was initiated. In 2003, 176 children born to Hep B positive mothers (HBsAg +ve) while in 2004, 202 children born to Hep B positive mothers (HBsAg +ve). However, only 31 perinatal hep B was reported in 2000 and 2005. Most of cases are imported from Asia, followed by mexico and Africa.

We followed all the 31 cases and here we document their expereince in accessing care in the context of diagnosis, communication and treatment. We found systems failures in diagnosis of perinatal hepatitis b among recent adopted children, and most of them end of having chronic hepatitis b because they are not adequately treated. These results highlight the need for physicians to be alert when screening recent immigrant children fro highly endemic countries, and the need to effectively communite with these communities.

Learning Objectives:

• To show the burden of perinatal hepatitis c among immigrants.
• To document failures in local and international screening programs for immigrants.
• To demonstrate access to medical care by minorities.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation