Epidemiological Transition and Strategies for the Control of Hepatitis A in Serbia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improvements in socioeconomic and hygienic conditions during the past decades led to declining hepatitis A (HA) seroprevalence in many countries. Aiming at informing HA vaccination policy, we assessed current epidemiological trends in Serbia by analyzing surveillance data for 2002-2021.

Methods

Data on cases and outbreaks were obtained from the Serbian national surveillance database and descriptively analyzed. HA incidence was calculated in relation to time, patients' residence, and demographics.

Results

Overall, 13,679 HA cases and 419 outbreaks were recorded with the highest incidence in the southeast. Downward HA trends were observed, while infant mortality was halved, and gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity (GDP PP) per capita, tripl

SUBMITTER: Medic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10056894 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature