Author(s)

Lucie Charlotte Ollandzobo Ikobo^1,2*, Farrèche Colombe Missidi¹, Hostaud Bienvenu Atipo-Ibara², Arnaud Mongo Onkouo^1,3, Clausina Philestine Ahoui Apendi^1,3, Jile Florent Mimiesse^1,3, Blaise Irénée Atipo Ibara^1,3

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
²Infant Paediatrics Department, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
³Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Department, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B (VHL) is a public health problem, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa. The aim of this study was to assess vaccination coverage against HBV in children in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Brazzaville health centres from January to September 2019. It involved children aged between six months and six years who received a vaccination against HBV. Sampling was exhaustive and based on stratified sampling. Results: The overall prevalence of children vaccinated against HBV in Brazzaville was 96.2%. It was insufficient in the Talangai health district (79%). The pentavalent vaccine was administered to 97.7% of children, 85% of whom had received all three doses. The reasons for incomplete vaccination were parents’ ignorance of HVB (85.6%) and of vaccination (14.3%). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of vaccinated children is high in Brazzaville, it is still insufficient in some health districts, particularly Talangai, because parents are unaware of the disease and of vaccination. Pentavalent is the only vaccine available in the national vaccination programme, which is why an effective national vaccination policy needs to be put in place.

Prevalence, Vaccination, Viral Hepatitis B, Child, Brazzaville

Ikobo, L. , Missidi, F. , Atipo-Ibara, H. , Onkouo, A. , Apendi, C. , Mimiesse, J. and Ibara, B. (2024) Prevalence of Children Vaccinated against Viral Hepatitis B in Brazzaville. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 14, 426-434. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2024.142042.