[Analysis on hepatitis B vaccine coverage among the population of 1-59 years old in Shandong province].

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) coverage in the population of 1-59 years old in Shandong province and provide evidence for improving the strategy for hepatitis B control.

METHODS

A cross-section survey was conducted among the population aged 1-59 year-old in Shandong province in 2006. The study population was selected by multi-stage randomly sampling method and HepB immunization history was obtained by immunization record (for children 1-14 years old) or recall. Weighted coverage rates were calculated.

RESULTS

The weighted complete HepB coverage in the population 1-59 years old was [27.07%95% Confidence Internal (CI) 22.56%-31.59%] in Shandong province and was 99.66% (95% CI 99.72-100.00%), 89.95% (95% CI 87.69%-92.20%) and 13.21% (95% CI 7.78%-18.65%) in the age group of 1-4 years old, 5-14 years old and 15-59 years old, respectively. The complete HepB coverage varied significantly in the age groups (P < 0.05). No differences were found between the males and females, the rural and urban inhabitants, and among the population living in the eastern, western and central areas (P > 0.05). The weighted timely birth-dose HepB coverage was 65.41% (95% CI 55.56%-75.25%) in the children 1 to 14 years of age, which declined with age and reached the highest level in the children aged 1 year (93.07%; 95% CI 88.43%-97.70%).

CONCLUSIONS

A HepB catch-up campaign should be conducted in the elder children in Shandong province and further efforts should be made to improve HepB coverage among the high risk population for enhancement of hepatitis B control.