Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB-BD) Vaccination: Coverage and Associated Factors in Senegal

Author(s): Abou Ba MD*, Ndèye Fatou Sow MD, Jean Baptiste Niokhor Diouf MD, Aliou Thiongane MD, Younoussa Keïta MD5, Babacar Niang MD, Fatou Ly, Ndiaye O MD

Introduction: Hepatitis b is a global public health problem, with a high morbidity and mortality rate, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Western Pacific. It is most often secondary to perinatal transmission. Prevention relies on vaccination. The aim of our study is to assess hepatitis B vaccination coverage at birth and associated factors in Senegal.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, carried out during the period from mars 1, 2021 to November 31, 2021 at the Dalal Jamm Hospital's pediatric department at Dakar. All children aged 0 to 15 years were included.

Results: A total of 328 children (180 boys; 54.9%) were included. The mean age of the children was 25.3 ± 4.2 months. Almost all (99.39%) mothers had HBsAg serology, which was positive in 12.8% of cases. Almost all deliveries took place in a health facility (99.7%). Most women (79.9%) had given birth vaginally. Of the children in the study population, 316 had received HepB-BD, giving vaccination coverage of 96.34%. Of them, 89.5% was vaccinated within the first 24 hours after birth. HepB-BD within 24 hours of birth was related to the term of pregnancy (p=0.018).

Conclusion: Vaccination against hepatitis b at birth is widely practiced in Senegal. Vaccination coverage within 24 hours of birth is satisfactory.