Perinatal Infection

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Defining the Problem
Why Asians and Pacific Islanders?

A specific mode of transmission in which an infected mother passes the hepatitis B virus to her newborn infant during delivery. This is the predominant means of HBV transmission in the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Mothers can protect their babies from becoming infected with HBV if the child is given a shot of HBIg (hepatitis B immunoglobulin) and the first dose of the HBV vaccine within 12 hours of birth. This procedure ensures protection of 98% of babies born to HBV positive mothers.