This study in Phichit province, Thailand, aims to find and support adults born before 1992 who are at high risk for hepatitis B infection. Many people in this group were born before the universal hepatitis B vaccine was available and may not know they are infected. The study will invite nearly 240,000 eligible adults for free hepatitis B screening. Those who test positive will be linked to care at one of 12 district hospitals. Doctors will use simplified 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to decide who needs treatment. Eligible individuals will receive a safe, effective daily medicine (tenofovir alafenamide). The study will use community health volunteers and phone reminders to help patients stay in care and take their medication regularly. Over three years, the study will track improvements in liver health and virus levels, aiming to prevent liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Adults born before January 1, 1992
Residing in Phichit Province
Individuals who test positive for HBsAg will be invited to participate in the follow-up cohort
HBsAg positive patients who are already under care will also be invited to participate
Subjects who withdraw consent
The Task Force for Global Health
Lead sponsor
Phichit Provincial Public Health Office, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand (Host institution)
Collaborator
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Collaborator
Ministry of Health, Thailand
Collaborator
Phichit Provincial Hospital
Collaborator
Liver Foundation Thailand
Collaborator
Thai Association for the Study of the Liver
Collaborator