Cost-effectiveness of prescreening versus empirical vaccination for hepatitis A in Egyptian children with chronic liver disease

East Mediterr Health J. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):804-9.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) antibodies among 172 children with chronic liver disease, and to calculate the cost-effectiveness of prescreening prior to hepatitis A vaccination. Anti-HAV antibodies were positive in 85.1%. However, seroprevalence of anti-HAV antibodies was 62.1% in children < 5 years and 94.4% in children 5+ years. We conclude that while it is cost-effective to do prescreening before hepatitis A vaccination for children with chronic liver disease aged 5+ years, prescreening might not be cost-effective in those aged < 5 years.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Age Factors
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Health Planning Guidelines
  • Hepatitis A / complications
  • Hepatitis A / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis A / prevention & control*
  • Hepatitis A Antibodies / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs
  • Liver Diseases / virology*
  • Mass Screening / economics*
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Population Surveillance
  • Program Evaluation
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Vaccination / economics*
  • Vaccination / methods

Substances

  • Hepatitis A Antibodies