Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Alexander, Anu Mary
• Prasad, Jasmin Helen
• Abraham, Priya
• Fletcher, John
• Muliyil, Jayaprakash
• Balraj, Vinohar

Titel

Evaluation of a programme for prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B in a rural block in southern India

Ist Teil von

• Indian journal of medical research (New Delhi, India : 1994), 2013-02, Vol.137 (2), p.356-362

Ort / Verlag

India: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2013

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This study was undertaken to evaluate a community based programme of antenatal screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and selective immunization of children commencing at birth, at a secondary care hospital in south India. The primary objective was to assess immunization coverage among children born to HBsAg positive women; secondary objectives were to study the prevalence of HBsAg among antenatal women, prevalence of HBsAg among immunized children (to estimate vaccine efficacy), seroconversion rate and relationship of maternal hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to hepatitis infection. The prevalence of hepatitis B antigen among antenatal women and immunization coverage achieved with hepatitis B vaccine in a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu were assessed through examination of records. Children born between May 2002 and December 2007 to hepatitis B positive women were followed up for a serological evaluation, based on which vaccine efficacy and the effect of maternal hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) on breakthrough infection was estimated. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among antenatal women was 1.58 % (95% CI: 1.35-1.81%). Vaccine coverage for three doses as per a recommended schedule (including a birth dose) was 70 per cent, while 82.4 per cent eventually received three doses (including a birth dose). Estimated vaccine efficacy was 68 per cent and seroconversion 92.4 per cent in children aged 6-24 months. Maternal HBeAg was significantly associated with either anti-HBc or HBsAg in immunized children, RR=5.89 (95% CI: 1.21-28.52%). The prevalence of hepatitis B among antenatal women in this region was low and a programme of selective immunization was found to be feasible, achieving a high coverage for three doses of the vaccine including a birth dose.