TY - JOUR ID - TI - Anti‑Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Response and Levels in Hepatitis B Vaccinated Children in Diyala Province, Iraq AU - Mustafa Mahmood Mustaf AU - Abdulrazak S. H. Hasan PY - 2020 VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 15 EP - 19 JO - IRAQI JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE المجلة العراقية لطب المجتمع SN - 16845382 AB - Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination was one of the success stories of the 20th century. It is highly effective and safe and was incorporated into national immunization programs of countries worldwide. Objectives: The objective of the study as to explore the response rate and titers of anti‑HBs antibodies among children 1–14 years old immunized with HB vaccine in Baquba city Diyala province. Vaccinees and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted in Baquba City, the center of Diyala province, Iraq for the period July 20, 2016–March 20, 2017. A total of 452 children were enrolled, 247 (54.6%) were males and 205 (45.4%) were females, with an age range of 1–14 years. All were previously immunized with genetically engineered HBV vaccine (Euvax B, Korea), with a dose of 10 µg of HBsAg/0.5 ml intramuscularly. Venous blood samples were collected aseptically; sera were separated and subjected for the detection of HBsAg, anti‑HBs antibody titer, HBe Ag, and total antibody and anti‑HBc total antibody using Enzyme‑Linked Immunosorbant assays(ACON, Foresight‑USA). A preconstructed questionnaire form was prepared including information of sociodemographic, health, and vaccination status. Statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), Version 23. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall anti‑HBs Ab positivity rate was 75.66% (95% confidence interval was 71.5%–79.6%), with a mean anti‑HBs Ab titers range (10.1–673.4 mIU/ml). However, the titer was failed to reach the protective level in 110 (24.34%) vaccinees. The highest anti‑HBs Ab positivity rate among children received 1 or 2 vaccine dose is significantly higher among those after <1‑year duration (80.0%, P = 0.043), while the mean anti‑HBs Ab titer is insignificantly highest among the same group of children (43.7 mIU/ml, P = 0.24). The highest anti‑HBs Ab positivity rate among children received three vaccine doses is significantly higher among those after <1‑year duration (91.3%, P = 0.003), and similarly the highest mean of anti‑HBs Ab titer is insignificant higher among the same children group (81.3 IU/ml, P = 0.2). Regarding those children received four vaccine doses, the anti‑HBs Ab positivity rate and the mean anti‑HBs Ab titer are significantly higher among children after <1 year (89.9%, P = 0.004 and 97.7 IU/ml, P < 0.001), respectively. Finally, the anti‑HBs Ab positivity rate after five vaccine doses was insignificantly higher after 1–3‑year duration (72.4%, P = 0.15), while the highest mean anti‑HBs Ab titer was significantly higher among those with <1‑year duration (55.0 IU/ml, P < 0.041). Conclusion: Universal hepatitis B vaccination is generally produce high rate of protection among children and the highest anti‑HBs antibody titer was achieved through 3 or 4 doses after <1‑year postvaccination.Keywords: Anti‑HBs Ab, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis B virus vaccine

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