AGE-SPECIFIC PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B SURFACE ANTIGENEMIA IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AT PORT-MORESBY, PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA (A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HEPATITIS-B CONTROL PROGRAM)

A cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence of hepatitis B surface an tigenaemia in cord blood from 50 newborn babies and in blood from 415 children admitted to the children's ward of Port Moresby General Hospi tal indicates that perinatal vertical transmission is likely to be imp ortant and that there is a high rate of horizontal transmission in the 1st few years of life. Thirteen per cent of infants aged 3-5 months a nd 29-30% of those over 2 years of age were strongly positive for hepa titis B surface antigen. Open sores and poor hygiene are likely to pla y a significant role in the high level of horizontal transmission of h epatitis B virus (HBV) in our context. Our findings give support and u rgency to the current active immunization policy against HBV, beginnin g as soon as possible after birth.