Hepatitis B infection among Nigerian children admitted to a children's emergency room

BACKGROUND

Nigeria commenced her hepatitis B immunization programme in 2004 but there have been few evaluations of the programme in different parts of the country given the fact that prevalence in different regions of the country varies. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg and the hepatitis B immunization status among children admitted to the children's emergency room (CHER) in Benin Teaching Hospital.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 150 consecutively recruited children aged 2 months to 15 years admitted to the CHER of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. HBsAg was assayed for in blood.

RESULTS

HBsAg seroprevalence was 13.9%. Majority (83%) of the children were age appropriately immunized for hepatitis B. Mean age at receipt of the birth dose of hepatitis B (28.0 ± 20.4 days) was significantly delayed (p<0.0001). Mean age at completion of the schedule(110 ± 18.6 days) was significantly delayed compared to the recommended age of 98 days p<0.0002). Age, sex and socioeconomic status were not significantly associated with being seropositive(p>0,05).

CONCLUSION

HBsAg seroprevalence was high despite high immunization coverage. Lack of timeliness in the receipt of the birth dose and in completion of the schedule may have contributed to the seeming lack of effectiveness of the immunization programme.

Hepatitis B immunisation programmes in European Union, Norway and Iceland: where we were in 2009?

In January 2009 25 European Union (EU) Member States (MSs), Norway and Iceland, participated in a survey seeking information on national hepatitis B vaccination programmes. Details of vaccination policy, schedule, population groups targeted for vaccination, programme funding, vaccine coverage and methods of monitoring of vaccine coverage were obtained. Twenty (74%) countries reported that they have a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, in addition to immunisation of at risk groups; seven (26%) countries recommend HBV for high risk groups only (with some inter-country variation on groups considered at high risk). Among countries without universal hepatitis B vaccination programmes, the major factor for non-introduction is low disease endemicity.