Assessment of perinatal hepatitis B and rubella prevention in New Hampshire delivery hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate current performance on recommended perinatal hepatitis B and rubella prevention practices in New Hampshire.


METHODS
Data were extracted from 2021 paired mother-infant records for the year 2000 birth cohort in New Hampshire's 25 delivery hospitals. Assessment was done on the following: prenatal screening for hepatitis B and rubella, administration of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose to all infants, administration of hepatitis B immune globulin to infants who were born to hepatitis B surface antigen-positive mothers, rubella immunity, and administration of in-hospital postpartum rubella vaccine to rubella nonimmune women.


RESULTS
Prenatal screening rates for hepatitis B (98.8%) and rubella (99.4%) were high. Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose was administered to 76.2% of all infants. All infants who were born to hepatitis B surface antigen-positive mothers also received hepatitis B immune globulin. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the month of delivery and infant birth weight were independent predictors of hepatitis B vaccination. The proportion of infants who were vaccinated in January and February 2000 (48.5% and 67.5%, respectively) was less than any other months, whereas the proportion who were vaccinated in December 2000 (88.2%) was the highest. Women who were born between 1971 and 1975 had the highest rate of rubella nonimmunity (9.5%). In-hospital postpartum rubella vaccine administration was documented for 75.6% of nonimmune women.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documents good compliance in New Hampshire's birthing hospitals with national guidelines for perinatal hepatitis B and rubella prevention and highlights potential areas for improvement.
Bascom
Susan
S
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, 29 Hazen Dr, Concord, NH 03301-6504, USA. sbascom@dhhs.state.nh.us
Miller
Stephanie
S
Greenblatt
Jesse
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009513:New Hampshire; D049590:Postpartum Period; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012409:Rubella / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012411:Rubella Vaccine