[Evaluation of the hepatitis B prevention program in newborn infants. I. National data, 1990].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of the national programme for prevention of perinatal hepatitis B infections.


METHODS
The regional public health laboratories and provincial immunization administrations in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Retrospective evaluation.


METHODS
Starting October 1989 routine screening of pregnant women for HBsAg was performed and passive-active immunisation of infants of HBsAg-positive mothers was added to the national immunisation programme. Infants receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth and hepatitis B vaccine at 3,4,5, and 11 months of age, concomitant with the DTP-polio vaccine. The effectiveness of screening and intervention in 1990 was evaluated.


RESULTS
Screening covered about 85% of the pregnant population and the prevalence (0.44%) was less than expected. About 60% of the infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers were registered for vaccination. Of these infants the average coverage was 83% for immunoglobulin, and 90%, 86%, 80% and 55% for the four successive hepatitis B vaccinations. There was considerable delay in vaccine administration; frequently doses were administered later than recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance with screening and vaccination appeared incomplete. Recommendations for the simplification of the current programme are made.
Grosheide
P M
PM
Centrum voor Infectieziekten Epidemiologie, Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiëne, Bilthoven.
den Ouden
A L
AL
Verrips
G H
GH
Conyn-van Spaendonck
M A
MA
Loeber
J G
JG
Verloove-Vanhorick
S P
SP
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin
Evaluatie van het hepatitis B-preventieprogramma bij pasgeborenen. I. Landelijke gegevens, 1990.