KEYWORDS:

BACKGROUND:
Hepatitis B is a viral sexually transmitted disease, which can be prevented through immunization. It not only will prevent unnecessary exposure to sex partners, but also will help to prevent perinatal cases and other complications, such as liver cancer or death. Mandatory Hepatitis B vaccination is not been required in STD Clinics in Puerto Rico. The documentation of reliable criteria will be essential to establish a program policy in a near future.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To identify predictive values for factors on the selection of high risk individuals to participate in a Hepatitis B Program at STD Clinics.

METHOD(S):
STD patients from the largest clinic in Puerto Rico were identified and recruited for a three-dose hepatitis B series. Positive and negative predictive values were calculated for several characteristics.

RESULT(S):
Twenty nine (29) medical records from the Hepatitis B program were evaluated. The 37.9% (n=11) completed the 3-dose series and another 72.4% (n=18) had two doses and is in progress. The 41.4% (n=12) were STD's contacts, 27.6% (n=8) were self-referrals, 17.2% (n=5) were referred by DIS / HCW's, 6.9% (n=2) were STD's suspect, 3.4% (n=1) was pregnant and 3.4% (n=1) was unknown. In relation to ages; they range 18 thru 60 with a median of 26 y/o; 51.7% (n=15) were 20-29 y/o, 24.1% (n=7) were 30-39, 10.3% (n=3) were 50-59 y/o, 6.9% (n=2) were 14-19 y/o and 3.4% (n=1) was 40-49 and higher. Over ninety per cent; 93.1% (n=27) were heterosexuals, 3.4% (n=1) was bisexual and 3.4% (n=1) were unknown, 69.0% (n=20) never had use condoms, 10.3% (n=3) always use condoms, 79.3% (n=23) has one sex partner, meanwhile 20.7% (n=3) has two or more sex partners.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Hepatitis B completion series in high risk STD's patients is within expected range.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) needs to conduct case tracing to increase the completion series percentage.