Conference abstract
Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among newborns less than 6 weeks of age in the Northern region of Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(115).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.115.2223
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, prevalence, newborns, Garoua
Oral presentation
Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among newborns less than 6 weeks of age in the Northern region of Cameroon
Gadji Mahamat1,&, Hermann Landry Munshili-Njifon2, Marie Amougou-Atsama3, Sebastien Kenmoe4, Chavely Gwladys Monamele2, Onana Boyomo1, Richard Njouom2
1University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Study, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 4University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: hepatitis B virus (HBV) is hyperendemic in sub-Sahara Africa where many countries have integrated hepatitis B vaccination in their schedule with the first vaccine dose at six weeks. However, data estimating the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus before the hepatitis B vaccine dose are still limited in this area. The objective was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus and associated risk factors among children before the age of six weeks in Northern Cameroon.
Methods: the study was conducted in five health facilities in Garoua, Cameroon. Blood samples of all newborns (n = 149) and some mothers presenting for HBV first vaccine dose were tested for hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) by an immunochromatographic test (Cypress Rapid Diagnostic).
Results: the mean age was 26.8±17 days and 26.3±6 years old for newborns and mothers respectively. The male-to-female sex ratio of the babies was 0.84. This study revealed the HBsAg prevalence of 4% (6/149) in newborns and 11.76% (4/34) in mothers. Remarkably, the serological status of all the mothers whose babies were found HBsAg positive was negative suggesting an early horizontal transmission. Circumcision (P=0.03; 95% CI: [1.4-8.5]) and place of delivery (P=0.004; 95% CI: [1.4-8.5]) were risk factors significantly associated with the transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in newborns.
Conclusion: our results show that newborns are at risk of HBV infection before the established age of initiation of HBV vaccination in Cameroon. The introduction of HBV vaccination at birth is thus required to reduce the occurrence of hepatitis B infection in newborns.
Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among newborns less than 6 weeks of age in the Northern region of Cameroon
Gadji Mahamat1,&, Hermann Landry Munshili-Njifon2, Marie Amougou-Atsama3, Sebastien Kenmoe4, Chavely Gwladys Monamele2, Onana Boyomo1, Richard Njouom2
1University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Study, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 4University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: hepatitis B virus (HBV) is hyperendemic in sub-Sahara Africa where many countries have integrated hepatitis B vaccination in their schedule with the first vaccine dose at six weeks. However, data estimating the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus before the hepatitis B vaccine dose are still limited in this area. The objective was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus and associated risk factors among children before the age of six weeks in Northern Cameroon.
Methods: the study was conducted in five health facilities in Garoua, Cameroon. Blood samples of all newborns (n = 149) and some mothers presenting for HBV first vaccine dose were tested for hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) by an immunochromatographic test (Cypress Rapid Diagnostic).
Results: the mean age was 26.8±17 days and 26.3±6 years old for newborns and mothers respectively. The male-to-female sex ratio of the babies was 0.84. This study revealed the HBsAg prevalence of 4% (6/149) in newborns and 11.76% (4/34) in mothers. Remarkably, the serological status of all the mothers whose babies were found HBsAg positive was negative suggesting an early horizontal transmission. Circumcision (P=0.03; 95% CI: [1.4-8.5]) and place of delivery (P=0.004; 95% CI: [1.4-8.5]) were risk factors significantly associated with the transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in newborns.
Conclusion: our results show that newborns are at risk of HBV infection before the established age of initiation of HBV vaccination in Cameroon. The introduction of HBV vaccination at birth is thus required to reduce the occurrence of hepatitis B infection in newborns.
