Philippe Salomon Nguwoh
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America; Higher Institute of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lisala, Mongala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Christian Taheu Ngounouh
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America; Higher Institute of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lisala, Mongala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
René Ghislain Essomba
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
Patrice Zanga Olinga
Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America; Higher Institute of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lisala, Mongala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng
Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lisala, Mongala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon
Gilbert Nguepidjo
Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America; Higher Institute of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon
Sandrine Chimène Tonmeu Douyong
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America
Désiré Tchoffo
Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lisala, Mongala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon
Anne Esther Njom Nlend
Higher Institute of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Yaounde, Cameroon
Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
Joseph Fokam
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon; School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management, Yaounde, Cameroon
Abstract
Introduction: since the introduction of the anti-HBV vaccine into the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in 2005 in Cameroon, vaccination coverage has reached 99.0%. This coverage would indicate an increase in the number of children immune to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and a decrease in susceptibility to HBV-infection. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the HBV vaccine on pediatric HBV-infection in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Methods: this school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2016 among 180 children from Nkomo public school. The study population was stratified into two groups: vaccinated (n=95) versus (vs) unvaccinated (n=85). Screening for HBV biomarkers was done using a rapid panel test for detection (HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBc) and anti-HBs titer using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analyses were done using SPSS v. 22 with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: the mean age was 9.65 years. HBsAg (p=0.019) and anti-HBc (p=0.001) rates were detected in children aged ≥10 years and children aged < 10 years (95.95% [71/74]) were vaccinated vs 22.64% (24/106) for those aged ≥10 years (OR: 80.86; 95% CI: 23.36%-279.87%, p < 0.0001). According to anti-HBV vaccination status, HBsAg rate varied from [9.41% (8/85) to 1.05% (1/95), p=0.025], HBeAg rate varied from [2.35% (2/85) to 0% (0/95), p= 0.42] and anti-HBc rate ranged from [12.94% (11/85) to 2.10% (2/95), p= 0.011].
Conclusion: despite the variability of the anti-HBs titer, vaccination against HBV has a positive effect on the reduction of HBV-infection in children in tropical settings such as Cameroon.
