INSP Timor-Leste

📢 Thrilled to Share Our Latest Publication!

We are excited to announce that our research article, "Case-control study of risk factors for abscess development following hepatitis B vaccination in children in Timor-Leste, 2024", has been published in PLOS ONE!

🔍 What We Investigated

In 2024, Timor-Leste experienced a high proportion of adverse events following immunization (AEFI), with 89% involving injection-site abscesses in infants after hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination. This prompted a national investigation to identify potential risk factors.

📊 Study Design

We conducted a retrospective matched case-control study across 10 municipalities, involving:

· 12 cases (infants with confirmed abscesses)
· 12 matched controls (by facility, date, age, s*x)

🧬 Key Findings

· ❌ No statistically significant associations were identified for:
· Birth weight or gestational age
· Antiseptic application
· Vaccinator training/experience
· Injection site
· Multidose vial status

⚠️ However, the very small sample size (12 pairs) means findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory.

💡 Implications

Despite the inconclusive results, this study reinforces the critical importance of:

· ✅ Strict adherence to safe injection practices
· ✅ Proper multidose vial management
· ✅ Robust AEFI surveillance systems
· ✅ Larger prospective studies to reliably identify risk factors

🙏 Acknowledgement

A huge thank you to PI dr. Mariano da Silva Marques, co-authors and the entire team at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste (INSP-TL) vaccine safety and child health. This work was part of the national AEFI response, highlighting the importance of evidence-based immunization practices. Appreciate the contribution of EPI, Maternal and Child Health Team of MoH and NITAG-TL.

📖 Read the full article here:

Case-control study of risk factors for abscess development following hepatitis B vaccination in children in Timor-Leste, 2024 Background Hepatitis B vaccination is essential for preventing chronic hepatitis B infection and its long-term complications. In 2024, a high proportion of reported adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in Timor-Leste involved injection-site abscesses among infants who received the hepatitis....

ALARMA SEDU BA SAUDE PUBLIKU:
PREPARASAUN HASORU EL NIÑO MODERADU-FORTE IHA TIMOR-LESTE

Tuir previsaun husi autoridade meteorolojia nasional, Timor-Leste iha probabilidade aas (80%) atu hasoru fenomena El Niño ho intensidade moderadu to'o forte durante periodu ne'ebé naruk. Fenomenu klimatiku ida ne'e bele hamosu redusaun precipitasaun (udan menus), aumentu temperatura aas liu normal no bailoron prolongada (naruk).

Maski El Niño hanesan fenomenu klimatiku natural, nia impaktu bele afeta diretamente saúde pública, segurança alimentar e nutricional, segurança bee e resiliência komunidade. Tamba ne'e, importante tebes atu governu, setor saude no komunidade implementa medidas preparasaun no mitigasaun husi agora.

Tanba sa maka setor saude presiza preokupa?
Mudansa klimatika relasiona ho El Niño bele altera perfil epidemiolojiku no distribuisaun moras iha komunidade. Bainhira presipitasaun menus no temperatura aumenta durante periodu naruk, risku ba morbilidade no mortalidade relasiona ho ambiente bele aumenta.

Timor-Leste kontinua vulneravel tanba parte boot husipopulasaun depende ba agrikultura subsistensia, udan ben no fonte bee natural sira ba moris lorloron. Bele refere ba infografia ne'ebe anexu no mos fontes notísia RTTL iha link tuir mai ne'e: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRRq69sXOmQ