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. 2007 May;17(3):69-75.
doi: 10.2188/jea.17.69.

Impact of the universal hepatitis B immunization program in Mongolia: achievements and challenges

Dambadarjaa Davaalkham  1 , Toshiyuki Ojima, Ritei Uehara, Makoto Watanabe, Izumi Oki, Steven Wiersma, Pagvajav Nymadawa, Yosikazu Nakamura
Affiliations

Impact of the universal hepatitis B immunization program in Mongolia: achievements and challenges

Dambadarjaa Davaalkham et al. J Epidemiol. 2007 May.

Abstract

Background: The impact of the universal infant hepatitis B (HB) immunization program initiated in 1991 in Mongolia is still unclear.

Methods: A nationwide school-based cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted in 2004, with stratified, multistage, random cluster sampling from all public elementary schools (n=593) in Mongolia. All children were tested for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Results: Serology results were available for 1,145 children (592 boys and 553 girls) aged 7-12 years (survey response rate: 93%). Immunization card was available for 702 (61.3%) children. The coverage of complete HB vaccination was 60.1% and it was increased by birth cohort from 44% to 76%. Significantly higher proportion of children in Metropolitan cities (75.2%) was completely vaccinated with HB compared to those in Province centers (55.7%) and rural areas (59.1%). HBV infection occurred in 5.9%, 13.2%, and 20.8% of complete vaccinees living in Metropolitan, Province centers, and rural areas, respectively; of whom 1.2%, 2.9%, and 8.6% were HB surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, respectively. Only 17.0% of the children had protective anti-HBs which decreased from 31.1% to 16.3% among 7 to 12-year-olds indicating its decay with time.

Conclusions: Prevalence of HBV infection and carriage among young generation meaningfully declined compared with those of previous studies in Mongolia. The coverage of birth dose and complete HB vaccination was significantly low in Province centers and rural areas which should be taken into consideration.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Coverage rate of complete hepatitis B (HB) vaccination, prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and vaccine-induced immunity among study population by year of birth
* : The coverage of complete HB vaccination among the study population † : Immunity induced by HB vaccine (only anti-HBs-positive) ‡ : Past HBV infection and carriage § : Positive for HBsAg
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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