Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis Viruses and Hepatitis B Genotypes of Female Marriage Immigrants in Korea.
PURPOSE
The Korean society has moved rapidly toward becoming a multicultural society. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis viruses and investigate hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypic diversity in female marriage immigrants.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Screening program was conducted at support centers for multicultural families in 21 administrative districts in Korea between July 2011 and January 2017. A total of 963 female marriage immigrants were included in this study. Blood samples were tested for hepatitis viral markers and HBV genotype.


RESULTS
Subjects' median age was 33 years (20-40 years), and they originated from nine countries including Vietnam (n=422, 43.8%), China (n=311, 32.3%), the Philippines (n=85, 8.8%), Cambodia (n=58, 6.0%), and Japan (n=39, 4.0%). About 30% (n=288) of subjects required hepatitis A vaccination. HBsAg positive rate was 5.4% (n=52). Positive HBsAg results were the highest in subjects from Southeast Asia (6.6%, n=38). Anti-HBs positive rate was 60.4% (n=582). About 34% (n=329) of subjects who were negative for anti-HBs and HBsAg required HBV vaccinations. Genotypes B and C were found in 54.6% (n=12) and 45.4% (n=10) of the 22 subjects with HBV, in whom genotypes were tested. Eight (0.8%) subjects were positive for anti-HCV. Positive anti-HCV results were the highest in subjects from Central Asia (7.9%, n=3).


CONCLUSION
Testing for hepatitis viral marker (hepatitis A virus IgG and HBsAg/anti-HBs) is needed for female marriage immigrants. Especially, HBV genotype B is different from genotype C of Koreans. Therefore, interest and attention to vaccination programs for female marriage immigrants are necessary for both clinicians and public health institutes.
['Kwon|Jae Cheol|JC|', 'Chang|Hye Young|HY|', 'Kwon|Oh Young|OY|', 'Park|Ji Hoon|JH|', 'Oh|In Soo|IS|', 'Kim|Hyung Joon|HJ|', 'Lee|Jun Hyung|JH|', 'Roh|Ha Jung|HJ|', 'Lee|Hyun Woong|HW|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6958-3035']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001210:Asia, Southeastern D002681:China D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants D005260:Female D005838:Genotype D006506:Hepatitis A D006509:Hepatitis B D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines D006515:Hepatitis B virus D006526:Hepatitis C D006801:Humans D007564:Japan D008297:Male D008393:Marriage D008875:Middle Aged D015995:Prevalence D056910:Republic of Korea D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies D014611:Vaccination D055815:Young Adult
genotype marriage immigrants Hepatitis virus prevalence