Study designs of evaluations included in the review
The authros do not give a clear description of the included studies; some were prospective placebo-controlled studies, some used historical controls, and some calculated protective efficacy within a group of vaccinated neonates by assuming that 65% of untreated infants would become chronic carriers of hepatitis B.
Specific interventions included in the review
Vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen, either plasma-derived or manufactured by recombinant DNA, given to neonates in a variety of doses according to different schedules, with or without concomitant administration of HBIG.
Participants included in the review
Neonates of mothers positive for HbeAg.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Protective efficacy of the vaccination schedule, based on the prevalence of chronic carriage (for over 6 months) of hepatitis B surface antigen. In some studies, prevalence of chronic carriage was estimated from point prevalence.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.