Associated factors with hepatitis B virus infection after 39 years of expanded program on immunization in central region, Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B infection has been emerging without warning and quickly spread in our globally connected world, considered a noticeable health issue. Vietnam is contemplated as a highly endemic of chronic hepatitis B, which contributes factor to the most common cause of cancer death. Prevention and control of HBV in Vietnam mostly depending on the immunization program and regular HBsAg screening. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Hepatitis B vaccination in implementation period of EPI in Vietnam from 1981-2019. Methods: A cross-sectional study, population-based was performed from 4 provinces in the Central Region, Vietnam (Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Ninh Thuan). Data was collected from 2075 participants from 1-39 years old in June to July 2019 by statra classification method and random selection. Participants were interviewed about geography demographic, environmental, and attitude factors, and testing HBsAg (+) through a quick test, which affected to their HBV infection status. Results: Our study found out the association between the prevalence of HBsAg(+) with age- groups (<18 years old (OR: 0.228, 95% CI: 0.145-0.359, p<0.001); attendant for delivery, including: medical staff (OR: 0.489, 95% CI: 0.330-0.725, p<0.001); traditional birth attendant (OR: 2.015, 95% CI: 1.321-3.076, p=0.001); family member & relatives (OR: 1.891, 95% CI: 1.087-3.289, p<0.05); reason to choose delivery place : Individual selection (OR: 2.264, 95% CI: 1.045-4.904, p<0.05); family member have Hepatitis B: No (OR: 3.861, 95%CI: 2.079- 7.171, p<0.001;); Unknown(OR: 0.518, 95% CI: 0.30- 0.895, p<0.05); vaccination history: Unknown (OR: 4.739, 95% CI: 1.808-12.422, p<0.05) and availability of immunization cards: No (OR: 2.988, 95%CI: 1.300-6.867, p<0.05;).Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection was still a significant cause of among children younger and adult from 1-39 years old in Vietnam. In the context of low vaccine proportion or uncertain their historical vaccination, and the HBsAg (+) prevalence is mostly in the adults; getting a full schedule of Hepatitis B vaccine and checking the status are very important, in particular, population who have not had a chance to approach vaccination due to their external condition during their childhood and their behavior compared to children. There is a need to consider the community communication to vaccinate frequently in the Expanded Program on Immunization within this dramatic situation.