J Formos Med Assoc
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Taiwan, with 15-20% of the adult population carrying the surface antigen (HBsAg). Hualien in Eastern Taiwan is relatively isolated from other parts of the island by the Central Mountains. The status of HBV infection among mountain aborigines in Hualien has not been studied on a large scale before. ⋯ The infection rate increased significantly with age (p < 0.05). The results show that HBV infection is a serious problem among the children of mountain aborigines in Hualien, with nearly one-third of them carrying HBsAg. Aggressive vaccination, as well as public health education programs, are greatly needed.