Integration of Hepatitis B Vaccine into the Expanded Program on Immunization: The Saudi Arabian Experience

Al-Faleh, Faleh Z.; Ayoola, E. Ayobanji; Al-Jeffry, Mohammed; Arif, Mohammad; Al-Rashed, Rashed S.; Ramia, S.

doi:10.5144/0256-4947.1993.231

Cited by 33 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This finding is in agreement with previous results reported by Mehdi et al [22], and this finding may be explained by the increased exposure encountered by males, non-governmental workers and those of an older age [21]. The significant high risk of HBV among married participants in this study could also be due to their older age.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…On the other hand, the prevalence of HBsAg in this study was low among students and this matched with that reported in the Najran study (1.7%) [10]. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced the national strategy of HBV vaccination of all children from 1990 [21]. Accordingly, nearly all students enrolled in this and other studies were born after that year, and it is expected that virtually all of them had received the HBV vaccination in the national programme.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis B in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia: a population-based seroprevalence study

Al‐Raddadi

Dashash

Alghamdi

et al. 2016

J Infect Dev Ctries

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Despite solid preventive strategies to reduce the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, recent reports about its prevalence and predictors are lacking in several Saudi cities at the community level. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HBV and to identify the most important predictors among the Saudi population in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,584 Saudi people attending primary health-care centers in Jeddah city during 2012/2013. Sociodemographic and hepatitis-related data were collected. HBV was diagnosed by ELISA test. The seroprevalence of HBV was estimated, and appropriate statistical analyses were performed, including univariate and multivariable regression analyses. Results: The seroprevalence of HBV was 2.2% (95% CI = 1.82-2.58) in the studied participants. The prevalence was higher among nongovernmental workers (3.5%), male participants (3.4%) and those aged ≥ 25 years (2.4%). The most important predictors for increasing the risk of HBV in this study were HBV contacts, male sex, history of dental procedures and blood transfusion. The significant positive risks associated with these predictors were 3.3, 2.5, 2.0 and 1.65, respectively. HBV vaccination, on the other hand, was associated with a significant risk reduction of 88% (OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03-0.51). Conclusions: The seroprevalence of HBV was relatively low among the Saudi population in Jeddah city reflecting the actions taken by health authorities to control HBV infection. However, more efforts, particularly in relation to health education programmes, strict control of blood banks and dental clinics, are still needed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis B in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia: a population-based seroprevalence study

Al‐Raddadi

Dashash

Alghamdi

et al. 2016

J Infect Dev Ctries

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Data gathered and also clinical experience indicate that HCV is perhaps more important than hepatitis B virus (HBV) in causing liver disease in the Saudi population. Furthermore, the integration of HBV vaccine into the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) 70 in Saudi Arabia in 1989 will undoubtedly greatly reduce the incidence of HBV infection in the future, leaving HCV as the major etiological agent of CLD among Saudis. 4) Studies from Saudi Arabia are in agreement with studies from different parts of the world, [71][72][73] regarding the lack of evidence for intrafamilial or sexual transmission of HCV.…”

Section: Genotypes Of Hcvmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection in Saudi Arabia: A Review

Al-Faleh

Ramia

1997

Ann Saudi Med

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is well established now that HCV is the major etiological agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (PT-NANBH), [1][2][3] and that it has a worldwide distribution. Studies on HCV infection have led to three striking observations. First, there is a high frequency of chronic infection in a significant number of infected individuals. It is estimated that at least 50% of HCV infections lead to chronic liver disease, including chronic active hepatitis with or without concurrent cirrhosis. [4][5][6] Second, HCV has been implicated as one of the major causative agents of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan 7 , Saudi Arabia, 8 and other parts of the world. [9][10] Third, approximately 45% of HCV cases have no obvious risk factors, including parenteral exposure, 4-6 leaving unanswered the question of virus transmission via as yet unidentified routes of exposure. The aim of this article is to review the literature about the extent of HCV infection in Saudi Arabia and see what can be concluded from the studies conducted so far. However, since there have been dramatic advances in the serologic diagnosis of HCV during the past six to seven years, we would first like to briefly review those serologic tests used and their reliability in diagnosing HCV infection. Diagnosis of HCV Infection Anti-HCV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testsHCV infection, once a diagnosis of "exclusion" based on the absence of markers of acute infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) can now be specifically diagnosed by using serodiagnostic assays for virus-specific antibodies.11 A first-generation anti-HCV EIA test was developed by using recombinant c100-3, derived from the NS3/NS4 region of the genome of HCV, as antigen (Figure 1). The test was used widely and although important data was generated, the test suffered from major drawbacks. These included failure to discover all patients with HCV infection, 12 long "window-phase" before seroconversion (could be up to 12 months), 13 in addition to a high rate of false-positive reactions. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] To circumvent the drawbacks of the anti-HCV c100-3 test, recombinant or synthetic antigens derived from other regions of the HCV genome were included in the test and this is what is referred to as second-generation anti-HCV EIA tests. The additional antigens c22 and c33 were derived from two conserved regions: the structural region (core) and NS3 region, respectively (Figure l). 21,22 In patients with posttransfusion NANBH, the seroconversion rate improved from 54% with the first-generation to 82% with a second-generation test and the time lag to seroconversion decreased from a mean of 6.1 weeks after the onset of hepatitis with the first-generation test to a mean of 2.3 weeks with the second-generation test.23 Thus, the second-generation test reduces the "window-phase" to seroconversion and increases the sensitivity in diagnosing HCV infection, with a dramatic reduction in the number of false-positive reactions seen with the first-generation ...

show abstract

“…In Taiwan due immunization program of HBV, the percentage of HBV-related HCC in children and adolescents decreased [38,39] . In Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, the prevalence of HBV infection in children have declined since the beginning of the vaccination [40,41] . Iran is located in low risk area and characterized as low incidence rate of HCC (< 5 per 100000) [42] .…”

Section: Hepatitis B In Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%