Objectives: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate hepatitis B seroprevalence in children, under 6 years old, referring to outpatient clinics of pediatrics.

Materials and Methods: Between June 2004-March 2005, 240 patients without jaundice, under age six years, were investigated at the pediatrics department. Children were grouped according to their ages as 15 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 years. After obtaining informed consent of their parents, we collected 3 cc venous blood samples and determined Hepatitis B markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti- HBe) in each sample by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.

Results: We found anti-HBs positivity in 170 children (70.8%). Ninety-three of them (54.7%) had been vaccinated against Hepatitis-B, while 77 of them (45.3%), had had hepatitis B infection previously. Only three children (1.25%) had HBsAg positivity. The rate of vaccination in all children was determined 38.75%.

Conclusion: Although this study was performed on children including routine hepatitis B vaccination program of Ministry of Health Services, the rate of vaccination was determined 38.75%. Importance of educational status of parents, necessity of public education about routine hepatitis B vaccine and the need of seroprevalence studies were emphasized. ©2005, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi