The Young Men’s Survey Phase II: Hepatitis B Immunization and Infection Among Young Men Who Have Sex

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May 2008, Vol 98, No. 5 | American Journal of Public Health 839-845

© 2008 American Public Health Association

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.101915

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RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The Young Men’s Survey Phase II: Hepatitis B Immunization and Infection Among

Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

M. Weinbaum, MD, MPH, Rob Lyerla, PhD, Duncan A. MacKellar, MA, MPH,

A. Valleroy, PhD, M. Secura, PhD, MPH, K. Behel, MPH, Trista

Bingham, MPH, MS, D. Celentano, ScD, Beryl A. Koblin, PhD, LaLota,

MPH, A. Shehan, Hanne Thiede, DVM, MPH, Lucia V. Torian, PhD for the

Young Men’s Survey Study Group

At the time of the study, M. Weinbaum and Rob Lyerla were with the

Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Atlanta, GA. Duncan A. MacKellar, A. Valleroy, M. Secura, and

K. Behel were with the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Trista Bingham is with the Los Angeles

County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA. D. Celentano is with

the s Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

Beryl A. Koblin is with the New York Blood Center, New York, NY. LaLota

is with the Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee. A. Shehan is with

the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Hanne Thiede is

with Public Health–Seattle, Seattle, WA, and King County, Seattle. Lucia V.

Torian is with the New York City Department of Health, New York.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Reprint Services, Office

of Communications, NCHHSTP, Mailstop E–06, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 16000 Clifton Road, Atlanta GA 30333 (e-mail: NPIN2@...).

Objectives. We measured the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization

and HBV infection among men aged 23 to 29 years who have sex with men.

Methods. We analyzed data from 2834 men who have sex with men in 6 US

metropolitan areas. Participants were interviewed and tested for serologic

markers of immunization and HBV infection in 1998 through 2000.

Results. Immunization prevalence was 17.2%; coverage was 21.0% among

participants with private physicians or health maintenance organizations and

12.6% among those with no source of health care. Overall, 20.6% had markers of

HBV infection, ranging from 13.7% among the youngest to 31.0% among the oldest

participants. Among those susceptible to HBV, 93.5% had regular sources of

health care, had been tested for HIV, or had been treated for a sexually

transmitted disease.

Conclusions. Although many young men who have sex with men have access to health

care, most are not immunized against HBV. To reduce morbidity from HBV in this

population, providers of health care, including sexually transmitted disease and

HIV prevention services, should provide vaccinations or referrals for

vaccination.

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