To the Editor.—
Hostetter et al1 confirmed recent reports2-5 of the relatively high incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among foreign-born children who are adopted in the United States. Approximately 5% to 15% of adopted infants from Asia, India, and Central/South America are found to have active HBV infection or to be asymptomatic carriers.1-5 Although some information is provided to prospective parents by adoption agencies discussing the possibility of a number of diseases (including HBV infection) in the foreign-born infants, few parents, in our experience, felt that they were adequately informed about the true risk and the potential social and medical consequences of HBV infection before the placement of the child in their home.
Hepatitis B in the United States: A major health disparity affecting many foreign-born populations