Impact of universal childhood vaccination against hepatitis B in Ghana: A pilot study


https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2018.721
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)
Submitted: 8 June 2017
Accepted: 10 July 2018
Published: 1 October 2018
Hepatitis B, Ghana, vaccination, children
Abstract Views: 1122
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Authors

  • Oheneba C.K. Hagan
    ock.hagan@uccsms.edu.gh
    University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Paul Nsiah University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Chemical Pathology, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Felix Yirdong University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Psychological Medicine and Mental Health, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Isaac Annan Howard Community College, Maryland, United States.
  • Sebastian Eliason University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Community Medicine, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Samuel V. Nuvor University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is of public health importance worldwide. Vaccination against the infection, especially in early childhood has significantly reduced the public health impact. This pilot study was undertaken in Cape Coast Metropolitan area to assess the impact of the introduction of HBV vaccination in children. A cross-sectional multi-stage cluster sampling of 501 pupils from 30 public and private primary and junior high schools within the Cape Coast metropolis. A questionnaire covering basic demographic details and immunisation history were administered to the participants after consent and assent had been sought. Hepatitis B serological test for HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, HBeAg and HbeAb was undertaken using Hepatitis B test kit and capillary blood from the participants. The general prevalence of HBcAb, HBsAg and HBsAb was found to be 3.6, 2.6 and 19.8% respectively. The prevalence of HBcAb was 2.6 and 6.1% among pupils delivered after and before the vaccine programme introduction respectively. Introduction of the vaccination programme in Ghana has had a positive impact on the HBV infection in Ghana.


Sebastian Eliason, University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Department of Community Medicine, Cape Coast

Department of Community Medicine

Supporting Agencies

Ghana-Michigan Collaborative Research Funding Program

Hagan, O. C., Nsiah, P., Obiri-Yeboah, D., Yirdong, F., Annan, I., Eliason, S., & Nuvor, S. V. (2018). Impact of universal childhood vaccination against hepatitis B in Ghana: A pilot study. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2018.721

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