[Observation on prevention of hepatitis B virus transmission between newly-married couples by HBsAg vaccine]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant public health risk, particularly for couples where one partner is a carrier.
• Pre-marital screening for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) identifies individuals at risk of transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of HBV vaccination in susceptible individuals prior to marriage.
• To assess the impact of vaccination on preventing HBV infection in couples with an HBsAg-positive partner.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 61 HBsAg-positive or partly HBeAg-positive individuals undergoing pre-marital medical examination.
• Participants were divided into two groups: one received HBV vaccine, the other a placebo.
• Seroconversion rates for anti-HBs and HBsAg positivity rates were monitored post-vaccination and post-marriage.

Main Results:

• The HBV vaccine group showed a significantly higher seroconversion rate (93.33%) compared to the placebo group (6.45%) within six months (P < 0.01).
• Post-marriage, HBsAg positivity rates were substantially lower in the vaccinated group (6.67%) versus the placebo group (61.29%) (P < 0.001).
• The overall protective efficacy of the HBV vaccine was 89.12%.

Conclusions:

• Pre-marital HBV vaccination is highly effective in preventing Hepatitis B infection among susceptible individuals.
• Vaccinating individuals before marriage, especially when a partner is HBsAg positive, is a critical public health intervention.
• This strategy significantly reduces HBV transmission within couples and enhances population immunity.