BACKGROUND: Although most African countries offer hepatitis B immunization through a 3-dose vaccine series recommended at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, very few provide birth dose vaccination. In support of Cameroon's national plan to implement the birth dose vaccine in 2017, we investigated predictors of infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination under the current program. METHODS: Using the 2011 Demographic Health Survey in Cameroon, we identified women with at least one living child (age 12-60 months) and information about the hepatitis B vaccine series. Vaccination rates were calculated, and logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with 3-dose series completion. Changes over time were assessed with linear logistic model. RESULTS: Among 4594 mothers analyzed, 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.1-69.3) of infants completed the hepatitis B vaccine series; however, an average 4-week delay in series initiation was noted with median dose timing at 10, 14 and 19 weeks of age. Predictors of series completion included facility delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.7-2.6), household wealth (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.1 comparing the highest and lowest quintiles), Christian religion (aOR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.5 compared with Muslim religion) and older maternal age (aOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7 for 10 year units). CONCLUSIONS: Birth dose vaccination to reduce vertical and early childhood transmission of hepatitis B may overcome some of the obstacles to timely and complete HBV immunization in Cameroon. Increased awareness of HBV is needed among pregnant women and high-risk groups about vertical transmission, the importance of facility delivery and the effectiveness of prevention beginning with monovalent HBV vaccination at birth.
BACKGROUND: Although most African countries offer hepatitis B immunization through a 3-dose vaccine series recommended at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, very few provide birth dose vaccination. In support of Cameroon's national plan to implement the birth dose vaccine in 2017, we investigated predictors of infanthepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination under the current program. METHODS: Using the 2011 Demographic Health Survey in Cameroon, we identified women with at least one living child (age 12-60 months) and information about the hepatitis B vaccine series. Vaccination rates were calculated, and logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with 3-dose series completion. Changes over time were assessed with linear logistic model. RESULTS: Among 4594 mothers analyzed, 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.1-69.3) of infants completed the hepatitis B vaccine series; however, an average 4-week delay in series initiation was noted with median dose timing at 10, 14 and 19 weeks of age. Predictors of series completion included facility delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.7-2.6), household wealth (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.1 comparing the highest and lowest quintiles), Christian religion (aOR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.5 compared with Muslim religion) and older maternal age (aOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7 for 10 year units). CONCLUSIONS: Birth dose vaccination to reduce vertical and early childhood transmission of hepatitis B may overcome some of the obstacles to timely and complete HBV immunization in Cameroon. Increased awareness of HBV is needed among pregnant women and high-risk groups about vertical transmission, the importance of facility delivery and the effectiveness of prevention beginning with monovalent HBV vaccination at birth.
Authors: Jeffrey D Stanaway; Abraham D Flaxman; Mohsen Naghavi; Christina Fitzmaurice; Theo Vos; Ibrahim Abubakar; Laith J Abu-Raddad; Reza Assadi; Neeraj Bhala; Benjamin Cowie; Mohammad H Forouzanfour; Justina Groeger; Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah; Kathryn H Jacobsen; Spencer L James; Jennifer MacLachlan; Reza Malekzadeh; Natasha K Martin; Ali A Mokdad; Ali H Mokdad; Christopher J L Murray; Dietrich Plass; Saleem Rana; David B Rein; Jan Hendrik Richardus; Juan Sanabria; Mete Saylan; Saeid Shahraz; Samuel So; Vasiliy V Vlassov; Elisabete Weiderpass; Steven T Wiersma; Mustafa Younis; Chuanhua Yu; Maysaa El Sayed Zaki; Graham S Cooke Journal: Lancet Date: 2016-07-07 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Henna Budhwani; Comfort Enah; Christyenne L Bond; Gregory Halle-Ekane; Eric Wallace; Janet M Turan; Jeff M Szychowski; Dustin M Long; Waldemar A Carlo; Pius M Tih; Alan T N Tita Journal: Int J Womens Health Date: 2022-05-07