Impact of HBV Vaccination on Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Volunteer Blood Donors in Tehran-Iran

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination is the most effective measure for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its consequences. HB vaccination has been a part of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of Iran since 1993. To extend HBV immunization, mass HBV vaccination was planned for adolescents born during 1989-1992. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of HBV infection in Tehran blood donors after implementing national HB vaccination program. Patients and Methods: Prevalence of HBV infection was determined in all of Tehran blood donors born during 1989-1993 as cases and the ones born during 1986-1988 as controls. All the participants were recruited after medical interviews. Serum samples taken from the participants as well as other blood donors were tested according to the IBTO standards for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Initially, positive samples were tested with appropriate confirmation methods. Statistical comparisons were performed using chi-square test. Prevalence estimates were age-adjusted by the direct method for comparisons across subgroups. Results: The prevalence of HBV infection was 57/100 000, 350/100 000, and 265/100 000 among accepted blood donors born during 1989-1993 (cases), 1986-1988 (nonconcurrent controls), and 1989-1993 (concurrent controls), respectively. The prevalence of HCV infection in the same group of blood donors was 28/100 000, 38/100 000, and 31/100 000, respectively. Conclusions: HBV prevalence was significantly lower among blood donors born during 1989-1993, which reflected the positive impact of EPI program and extended mass vaccination against HBV.

Decreasing the hepatitis B burden in Tunisia need more attention to adults for vaccination

“…However, I would like to suggest for more studies in adolescents for finding the main risk factors in general population higher age than 25 years and vaccinate the adult as we did in our country before and we confirmed that strategy was effective in decreasing the HBV burden in our community [5].…”

“…The other studies from Tunisia in infants and children under 5 years and adolescents suggested that vertical and perinatal transmission of HBV does not appear to be significant in Tunisia [4]. However, I would like to suggest for more studies in adolescents for finding the main risk factors in general population higher age than 25 years and vaccinate the adult as we did in our country before and we confirmed that strategy was effective in decreasing the HBV burden in our community [5].…”

Prevalence and risk factors for HBV and HCV in prisoners in Iran: a national bio‐behavioural surveillance survey in 2015

“… reported the risk of HBV in PWID as 21.16. Among drug‐using prisoners, age >30 years was a risk factor for HBV, which is apparently due to HBV vaccination coverage for people <30 years in Iran . Prisoners, especially those with a history of drug use, should therefore be treated as a high‐risk group in Iran that needs to be covered by HBV vaccination programmes.…”

The HBsAg Prevalence Among Blood Donors From Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…According to our results, the pooled estimate of HBsAg infection was higher in other E and M countries than Iran, which exhibited a prevalence of 0.58% in its blood donors, while the prevalence increased for Yemen and Djibouti, by up to 5.05% and 10.4%, respectively. This lower prevalence in Iran can be attributed to the effectiveness of the screening system, the selection of eligible donors, and the high vaccination coverage for HBV in the first years of life ( 11 , 112 ). In addition, low public awareness, particularly for the general population ( 113 ), unsafe services for blood donation ( 114 ), and a higher rate of HBsAg infection in the general population ( 115 ) may contribute to the higher prevalence of HBsAg in other E and M countries.…”