Health promotion

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with the goal of protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in facilities that provide maternity services, ensuring that the facilities follow the WHO/UNICEF “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” (the Ten Steps) and adhere to the 1981 International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

All infants should receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours.
When not feasible, the birth dose can still be effective in preventing perinatal transmission if given within 7 days, particularly within 3 days, although somewhat less than if given within 24 hours, but with declining effectiveness with each passing day. Even after 7 days, a late birth dose can be effective in preventing horizontal transmission and therefore remains beneficial.

Pre-term infants should be vaccinated at birth and subsequently follow the national hepatitis B vaccination schedule.
For preterm infants weighing under 2,000 g, the initial vaccine dose (birth dose) should not be counted as part of the vaccine series because of the potentially reduced immunogenicity of the hepatitis B vaccine in these infants; three additional doses of vaccine (for a total of four doses) should be administered beginning when the infant reaches one month of age.

The best way to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is through the hepatitis B vaccination of their infants, with the first dose administered during the first 24 hours of life.

The best way to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is through the hepatitis B vaccination of their infants, with the first dose administered during the first 24 hours of life.