Assessment of hepatitis B immunization programme among school students in Qatar

: تقييم برنامج تطعيم طلاب المدارس ضد التهاب الكبد B في قطر. Aims: This study was conducted to assess hepatitis B seroprevalence in children, hepatitis B vaccination coverage, potential exposure to risk factors, and knowledge among parents/guardians about hepatitis B infection. Methods: We carried out this cross-sectional study in Qatar during the academic year 2015/16. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select a nationally representative sample of 2735 grade 1 school students aged ≥ 5 years. Blood was collected by finger prick and tested using the point-of-care test/rapid test. A self-administered, precoded questionnaire was used to assess parent/guardian knowledge about HBV and collect information on the child's HBV vaccination coverage. Methodes: La presente etude transversale a ete realisee au Qatar pendant l’annee scolaire 2015-2016. L’echantillonnage en grappe a plusieurs niveaux a ete la technique utilisee pour selectionner un echantillon national representatif de 2735 eleves de premiere annee du primaire, âges de cinq ans ou plus. Un prelevement de sang a ete realise par piqure au doigt et un depistage a ete effectue a l’aide d’un test sur le lieu de soins/test rapide. Un questionnaire auto-administre precode a ete utilise pour evaluer les connaissances des parents/tuteurs en matiere d’hepatite B et recueillir des informations sur la couverture vaccinale des enfants contre l’hepatite B. Conclusions: Qatar has averted the hepatitis B threat and maintained high vaccination coverage for children. Conclusion: Le Qatar a su ecarter la menace de l’hepatite B et maintenir une couverture vaccinale elevee pour les enfants. الاستنتاج: لقد تفادت قطر تهديد التهاب الكبد B وحافظت على تغطية عالية لتطعيم الأطفال ضده.