Open AccessEvaluation of the routine hepatitis B immunization programme in Palestine,1996
Author(s) -
S. Kuhail,
R. El-Khodary,
Furqaan Ahmed
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2000.6.5-6.864
Subject(s) - immunization , medicine , palestine , hepatitis b , antibody , hepatitis b vaccine , immunology , hepatitis , transmission (telecommunications) , hepatitis b virus , hbsag , virus , ancient history , electrical engineering , history , engineering
The objectives of this study were to evaluate routine hepatitis B immunization in Palestine. Blood samples of 119 children [89 fully immunized and 30 non-immunized]were analysed. The protective antibody levels among immunized children were greater than the non-immunized children. Antibody levels among the immunized children were lower in the older age group [>36 months], but no sex differences in antibody level were apparent. Thus, hepatitis B immunization had an excellent impact on preventing hepatitis B transmission [85% preventive]. The non-responders constituted 14.6% of the sample, which is higher than other studies.