Epidemiology of hepatitis B and related factors in Hubei, 1990-2011

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B and related factors in Hubei province from 1990 to 2011 and provide evidence for the surveillance and prevention/control of hepatitis B. Methods The analysis was condcuted on the incidence data and reporting quality survey data of hepatitis B during this period in Hubei. Results The reported incidence of hepatitis B increased year by year, and the incidence had no obvious seasonality, but the incidence pattern varied with different populations, The incidence and case proportion in age group15 years was high. Farmers were the population mostly affected, the case proportion increased with year. Some doctors were not quite familiar with hepatitis B diagnosis and classification criteria, resulting misreporting and repeated reporting. Conclusion Children hepatitis B immunization program had effectively controlled the incidence of hepatitis B in children. High reported incidence of hepatitis B was mainly related with the misreporting and repeated reporting. It is necessary to improve the surveillance system of hepatitis B and strengthen the training on hepatitis B diagnosis and reporting in clinical doctors to increase the accuracy of hepatitis B surveillance.