Assessment of Timely Uptake of Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccine in a Secondary Health Facility in Delta State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2025.10Keywords:
Timely Hepatitis B birth dose (HepB-BD), Deferred, Delta State, Central Hospital Agbor, Vaccination days, Antenatal clinic (ANC)Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health concern, with an estimated 254 million individuals affected worldwide. Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of hepatitis B virus infections globally and the highest burden among children under five years of age. With a population of 6.8 million, the prevalence of hepatitis B in Delta state is 8%. To reach the
elimination goals for viral hepatitis, it is crucial to improve timely hepatitis B birth dose (HepB-BD) coverage by expanding access to HepB-BD.
Objectives: To determine the percentage of timely HepB-BD vaccine uptake as well as the extent of HepB-BD deferment amongst newborns delivered in a secondary health facility. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective, non-invasive cohort assessment which deployed a convenience sampling technique to inspect child health cards of all infants brought to the antenatal clinic of Central Hospital Agbor, a secondary health facility in Delta State, Nigeria, for their routine vaccinations within a 4-week period in January 2024.
Results: 209 infants 43% male, 57% female, were assessed for HepB-BD. Only 12 infants received( ) the HepB-BD within the first 24 hours of life, while 197 received theirs after 24 hours. Timely HepB- BD uptake was found to be 5.7% within this health facility. Delays in the uptake of HepB-BD vaccine varied from 1 day (minimum) to up to 43 days (maximum) amidst absence of a clear HepB-BD policy in the facility. All 12 infants who received the timely HepB-BD vaccine were either born late on a Wednesday, or on a Thursday as matched on the calendar. A total of 15 infants out of 197 who received the HepB-BD vaccine, post-24 hours, were also observed to be born on a Thursday, but after 4pm.
Conclusion: Timely and deferred HepB-BD uptake in Central Hospital Agbor, Delta State were found to be 5.7% and 94.3% respectively. Effort is needed to further address barriers to HepB-BD timely coverage to prevent transmission from mother to child.
References
Global hepatitis report 2024: action for access in low- and middle-income countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. Licence: CCBY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Accessed April 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240091672
Testing and Public Health Management of Persons with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection | HBV | Division of Viral Hepatitis | CDC.
Accessed April 10, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/hcp/diagnosistesting/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/testingchronic.htm
Freeland C, Kanu F, Mohammed Y, Nwokoro UU, Sandhu H, Ikwe H, Uba B, Asekun A, Akataobi C, Adewole A, Fadahunsi R, Wisdom M, Akudo OL, Ugbenyo G, Simple E, Waziri N, Vasumu JJ, Bahuli AU, Bashir SS, Isa A, Ugwu GO, Obi EI, Binta H, Bassey BO, Shuaib F, Bolu O and Tohme RA (2023) Barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B birth dose vaccination: Perspectives from healthcare providers and pregnant women accessing antenatal care in Nigeria. PLOS Glob Public Health, 8; 3 (6): e0001332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001332.
Update: Recommendations to prevent hepatitis B virus transmission United States. JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association, 1999; 281 (9): 790. doi:10.1001/jama.281.9.790
Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG et al. (2023) Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations — United States. MMWR Recommendations and Reports 72 (No. RR-1 ) : 1 – 2 5 . D O I : http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1
Schillie S, Vellozzi C, Reingold A, Harri A, Haber Penina, Ward, JW, Nelson NP (2018) Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recommendations and Reports, 67 (No. RR-1 ) : 1 – 3 1 . D O I : http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6701a1
WHO (2021). Global Progress Report on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 53.; 2021. Accessed April 28, 2024.https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240027077
Federal Ministry of Health. National AIDS/STIS control program. 2016. https://www.hepb.org/assets/Uploads/Nigeria-Hepatitis-Guidelines-TX-guidelines.pdf.
World Health Organization (2022) Introduction of Hep B birth dose. https://immunizationdata.who.int/. Accessed May 15, 2024.
World Health Organization (2015). A Guide for Introducing and Strengthening Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccination. Accessed May 15, 2024.https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/han dle/10665/208278/9789241509831_eng.pdf ;jsessionid=1543F1616B27E212B9704EA1
C56F4828?sequence=1
Okenwa UJ, Dairo MD, Uba B, Ajumobi O (2019) Maternal reasons for non-receipt of valid Hepatitis B birth dose among mother-infant pairs attending routine immunization clinics, South-east, Nigeria. Vaccine, 37(46):6894-6899. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.056
Okenwa UJ, Dairo MD, Bamgboye E, Ajumobi O (2020) Maternal knowledge and infant uptake of valid hepatitis B vaccine birth dose at routine immunization clinics in Enugu State – Nigeria. Vaccine, 38 (12): 2734 - 2740. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.01.044.
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria (FMoHSW), National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria], and ICF. 2024.
Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023–24: Key Indicators Report. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF.
Accessed September 10, 2024. https://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-PR157-Preliminary-Reports-Key-Indicators-Reports.cfm
The Role of Workers in Social Welfare Department: A Case Study of Central Hospital Agbor. https://www.grossarchive.com.ng/project/2857/the-role-of-workers-in-social-welfare-department-a-case-study-of-central-hospital-agbor-delta-state#google_vignette
Cochran WG (1977) Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Arefaine M, Johannessen A, Teklehaymanot T, Mihret A, Alemayehu DH, Osman M et al. (2024) A prospective, multicenter study of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine with or without hepatitis B immunoglobulin in preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Ethiopia. Vaccine, 42 (26): 126461. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24011435
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
