HEPATITIS B IN ADOLESCENTS: ANALYSIS OF PREVALENCE, RISKS DO AND CONSEQUENCES OF TRANSMISSION

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the epidemiology of Hepatitis B in adolescents in Brazil from 2017 to 2020 through a descriptive study with a temporal analysis and a quantitative approach, focusing on the prevalence, risks, and consequences of transmission. During the reported period, the study assessed the presence of 648 cases of Hepatitis B in adolescents, with the highest incidence in the North Region and in the year 2017, while 2020 recorded the lowest number of notifications of the disease. Furthermore, it predominantly affected female adolescents who had not completed elementary school from the 5th to the 8th grade, and chronic hepatitis was the most frequent clinical presentation among this age group during the studied period. Therefore, there is a need for public policies focused on social, educational, and health aspects to provide these young individuals with adequate knowledge about prevention, treatment, and the dangers of disease contamination.