Evaluation of immune response to hepatitis B vaccine and its determinants among immunized anti-HBc-negative children in Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Background: The hepatitis B vaccine is a crucial tool for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly in children. However, various factors can influence the vaccine's protective effectiveness and the duration of protection it provides. Objective: The objective of this study was...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Vaccine: X |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136225000889 |
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| Summary: | Background: The hepatitis B vaccine is a crucial tool for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly in children. However, various factors can influence the vaccine's protective effectiveness and the duration of protection it provides. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immune response to the hepatitis B vaccine, specifically the levels of anti-HBs, and to identify the factors influencing its production among immunized anti-HBc-negative children in the northwestern region of Ethiopia. Methods and materials: A community-based cross-sectional study was done with 157 participants ranging in age from 5 to 12 years, from July to December 2021. A simple random sampling method was employed to recruit the subjects. After drawing blood samples, serum was analyzed to detect the presence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution, log link function, and robust standard errors were used for multivariable analysis, with 95 % confidence intervals. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The total percentage of protective anti-HBs levels (anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/ml) among immunized anti-HBc-negative children in this study was 102/157 (65.0 %) (95 % CI: 57.0–73.0). Of these, 42.0 % were hypo-responders (their anti-HBs levels >10–100 mIU/ml), while 23.0 % were hyper-responders (their anti-HBs levels >100 mIU/ml). Moreover, concomitant vaccinations showed a significant negative association with anti-HBs antibody levels. Participants who had concomitant vaccinations, antibody levels decrease by ∼1.26 units compared to no concomitant vaccinations (APR: 1.26, 95 % CI: −1.892, −0.624) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Childhood vaccination against hepatitis B is effective in only 65 % of children. In the study area, protective antibody levels (anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/ml) were reduced among immunized anti-HBc-negative children. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-1362 |