Affiliations: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et
Technologique (CNRST), Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la santé
(IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Department of Epidemiology, John Hopkins University,
Baltimore, MD, USA | Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Centre Hospitalier
Universitaire P¨¦diatrique Charles De Gaulles, Ouagadougou, Burkina
Faso | Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences
de la Sante (UFR-SDS), Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Laboratoire d'immunologie, Unité de Formation
et de recherche en Sciences (UFR-SVT), Université de Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr Henri Gautier Ouedraogo, Institut de
Recherche en Sciences de la Sante/Research Instiute for Health Sciences
(IRSS/CNRST); 03 BP 7192 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso. Tel.: +226 50333594;
Fax: +226 50360394; E-mail: gouedraogo@irss.bf, whgautier@yahoo.fr
Abstract: Infection with hepatitis B is a major public health problem in
Burkina Faso. The infection is transmitted through blood and sexual
intercourse, as well as from mother to child during childbirth and
breastfeeding. Prevention mainly involves sanitation measures and, most
importantly, vaccination. This was a cross-sectional study of 200 children aged
6 to 18 months in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, who received three doses of a
quintuple vaccine (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus
influenzae type b Conjugate Vaccine Adsorbed). Post-vaccination blood samples
were tested for immunity to hepatitis B (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B infection
markers. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire. The mean age of
children was 9.8 ± 2.7 months, with a slight predominance of males
(55%). 93.3% of children had detectable anti-HBs (⩾ 5 IU/L) in serum, and
90% had levels considered protective (⩾ 10 IU/L). HBsAg was found in 0.5%
of children and anti-HBe and anti-HBc antibodies were found in 2.0% and 1.0%
respectively. None of the children were HBeAg-positive. While the response to
immunization was satisfactory, detection of HBsAg in one child does indicate
that there are further opportunities to prevent mother- to-child transmission
of the virus in Burkina Faso, such as vaccination at birth.
Keywords: HBV immunization, HBs antibody, immune and HBV infection status
