Hepatitis B is a ubiquitous DNA virus. Globally, an estimated 2 billion people or one in three have a marker for past or current infection , About 4.5 million new infections occur each year and one in four progress to liver disease. About 90% of perinatal infections become chronic and mortality in childhood is high. Nigeria belongs to the region of the world with hyperendemic prevalence >8%. In the South -southern part of Nigeria where this study was conducted, the prevalence among low risk pregnant women was 2.2% over a decade ago. Currently, the prevalence, 4.3% double. Fortunately, HBV is vaccine-preventable and vaccination remains the most important strategy for its control. In 1981, Maurice Hilleman discovered the vaccine and vaccination was first introduced in 1982. The recombinant vaccine by Pablo DT Valenzuela in 1986 replaced the earlier vaccine. Vaccination has evolved into a comprehensive strategy for virtual elimination of vertical and horizontal transmission. Vaccination of children against HBV was introduced by the Government of Nigeria (GON) into the National Program on Immunization (NPI) in 1995 but became available in 2004.
Immunologic Pattern of Hepatitis B Infection among Exposed and Non- Exposed Babies in A PMTCT Program in Low Resource Setting: Does Every Exposed Newborn Require 200IU of Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin?: Onakewhor JUE, Charurat M, Matthew O, Esosa Osagie, Asemota MO and Omoigberale A
Last date updated on December, 2024
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