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Background: HIV antibody testing has been included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, for ages 18-49 since 1999 and for ages 18-59 years since 2009 enabling estimation of trends in HIV prevalence as part of national surveillance in the U.S. household population. Self-reported HIV testing and antiretroviral use was also included in the survey since 1999., Setting: A continuous household-based probability sample of the U.S. population., Methods: From 1999 to 2018, 29,020 participants age 18-49 years were tested for HIV antibody and 34,092 participants age 18-59 years were asked about self-report of any previous HIV testing., Results: HIV prevalence was 0.41% among those aged 18-59 in 2009-2018 with a nonsignificant trend over time among those aged 18-49 years from 1999-2002 to 2015-2018. However, significant declines in prevalence were seen among those aged 18-39 years (0.37%-0.11%), women (0.22%-0.06%) and non-Hispanic black persons (2.14%-0.80%). Participants aged 18-39 years self-reported a decline in HIV testing, whereas those aged 40-49 and 50-59 years, non-Hispanic black persons and women reported an increase in getting a HIV test. Prevalence of infection and self-reported history of HIV testing varied by demographic and risk groups. HIV testing among HIV-positive persons was 83.9%. Antiretroviral therapy among those HIV-positive was under 50%., Conclusion: Although total HIV prevalence and previous self-reported HIV testing remained stable for the last 20 years, there were significant declines in age and demographic subgroups. Prevalence for both outcomes varied by demographic and risk variables., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Many persons infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unknown to the healthcare system because they may be asymptomatic for years, have not been tested for HCV infection, and only seek medical care when they develop liver-related complications. We analyzed data from persons who tested positive for past or current HCV infection during participation in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 through 2008. A follow-up survey was conducted 6 months after examination to determine (1) how many participants testing positive for HCV infection were aware of their HCV status before being notified by NHANES, (2) what actions participants took after becoming aware of their first positive test, and (3) participants' knowledge about hepatitis C. Of 30,140 participants tested, 393 (1.3%) had evidence of past or current HCV infection and 170 (43%) could be contacted during the follow-up survey and interviewed. Only 49.7% were aware of their positive HCV infection status before being notified by NHANES, and only 3.7% of these respondents reported that they had first been tested for HCV because they or their doctor thought they were at risk for infection. Overall, 85.4% had heard of hepatitis C; correct responses to questions about hepatitis C were higher among persons 40-59 years of age, white non-Hispanics, and respondents who saw a physician after their first positive HCV test. Eighty percent of respondents indicated they had seen a doctor about their first positive HCV test result., Conclusion: These data indicate that fewer than half of those infected with HCV may be aware of their infection. The findings suggest that more intensive efforts are needed to identify and test persons at risk for HCV infection., (Copyright © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the general U.S. population, sera from participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) conducted in 1988-1994 were tested for antibody to HAV (anti-HAV). Among 21,260 participants aged > or = 6 years tested, the overall prevalence of infection was 31.3%, and increased markedly with age. The age-adjusted prevalence was significantly higher among foreign- compared to U.S.-born participants, and was highest among Mexican-Americans and lowest among non-Hispanic whites. Among U.S.-born children, only Mexican-American ethnicity and income below the poverty level were associated with HAV infection in a multivariate model. During this period before hepatitis A vaccination, age, ethnicity and birthplace were the most important determinants of HAV infection in the United States.

The article examines the HIV prevalence trends in household population according to the 1998 and 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in the U.S. Serum or urine samples were tested for HIV antibody. The researchers presented the cause as well as the risk factors for HIV infection according to race, ethnic, or gender groups.

Objectives. Data from 2 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), NHANES II (1976-1980) and NHANES II (1998-1994), were analyzed to examine trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in the United States. Methods. Serum specimens were tested for makers of hepatitis B virus infection, and risk factors were determined from questionnaires. Results. The overall age-adjusted prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 5.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=4.8, 6.2) in NHANES II, as compared with 4.9% (95% CI=4.3, 5.6) in NHANES III. In both surveys, Black participants had the highest prevalence of infection (NHANES II, 15.8%; NHANES III, 11.9%). No difference in infection were found in the major racial groups between surveys, except for a decrease among those older than 50 years. Black race, increasing number of lifetime sexual partners, and foreign birth had the strongest independent associations with hepatitis B virus infection. Conclusions. Testing of participants in 2 national surveys demonstrates no significant decrease in hepatitis B virus infection, despite the availability of hepatitis B vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an update of the estimate of the seroprevalence of HIV from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Estimate of prevalence of HIV among cocaine users; Methods used to estimate HIV prevalence in the country; Reasons cited for nonresponse bias to the estimate based on the NHANES III.

Objectives. The Dallas County study of a proposed national household seroprevalence survey was designed to assess the feasibility of conducting a national survey and to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus infection for Dallas County. Risk behavior data were collected and correlated with HIV infection. Methods. Participants in this survey represented a probability sample of the county. A self-administered questionnaire on demographic characteristics and HIV risk behavior was completed and a blood sample was obtained. Results. Of the 1724 adults eligible for the survey, 1446 completed the questionnaire and 1374 provided a blood sample. The prevalence estimates were 0.4% for HIV and 7.3% for hepatitis B virus. A strong relationship was observed between HIV and hepatitis B status and risk behavior. Conclusions. In this study population, receptive anal intercourse and increasing numbers of male partners had the strongest correlation with the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus infection in men. The high level of risk reporting for individuals positive for HIV or hepatitis B suggests that survey participants who engage in risk behaviors were willing to report those behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Most young women initiate sexual activity during adolescence; risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) accompanies this initiation. In this study we estimated the prevalence of the most common STIs among a representative sample of female adolescents in the United States. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 838 females who were aged 14 to 19 and participating in the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. After interview and examination, survey participants provided biological specimens for laboratory testing. The main outcome was weighted prevalence of at least 1 of 5 STIs: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus type 2, and human papillomavirus (HPV) (any of 23 high-risk types or type 6 or 11). RESULTS: Prevalence of any of the 5 STIs was 24.1% among all and 37.7% among sexually experienced female adolescents. HPV (23 high-risk types or type 6 or 11) was the most common STI among all female adolescents (prevalence: 18.3%), followed by C trachomatis infection (prevalence: 3.9%). Prevalence of any of the STIs was 25.6% among those whose age was the same or 1 year greater than their age at sexual initiation and 19.7% among those who reported only 1 lifetime sex partner. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of STIs among female adolescents is substantial, and STIs begin to be acquired soon after sexual initiation and with few sex partners. These findings support early and comprehensive sex education, routine HPV vaccination at the age of 11 to 12 years, and C trachomatis screening of sexually active female adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article attempts to determine the prevalence of syphilis seroactivity in the U.S. using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHANES) during 2001-2004. In doing so, the authors test the sera from 18-49-year-old participants for syphilis with positive immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody using an enzyme immunoassay. Discussion on the results of the study is provided. Moreover, the study concludes that the prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity was low in the general U.S. population of 18-48-year-olds.