Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in South Western Sydney: evaluation of the country of birth method using maternal seroprevalence data.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and evaluate the country of birth (Census) method of describing hepatitis B distribution in an Australian health service with a large migrant population.

Methods: The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS, population 1.3 million) was estimated by applying the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in high or intermediate hepatitis B prevalence countries to SSWAHS residents from those countries, using 2006 Census data.