UPTAKE AND COMPLETION RATES OF HEPATITIS B VACCINATION AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT A REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

Health care workers are four times more likely to contract hepatitis B infection. Thus, the hepatitis B vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure to protect health workers. This study determined the uptake and completion of hepatitis B vaccination among health workers and the factors associated with vaccination uptake and completion in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional design, carried out in 2021 among all cadres of health workers at the only tertiary/referral hospital in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. A pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was completed by health workers that consented on information relating to socio-demographic data, vaccination history, knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine and infection, and risk perception of hepatitis B infection. These were analyzed in SPSS version 20 as means and proportions with 95% Confidence Intervals. Chi-square test for Independence was used to examine association between variables at a P-value set at 0.05.  Of the 281 study participants, females were 158 (56.2%) and 123 (43.8%), males; mean age was 37.4±8.5 years. Less than half, 132 (47.0%) had received at least one dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Of the 129 that had ever been vaccinated, 31(24%) had fully been vaccinated (completed required three doses). Years of practice (P=0.011), education (P<0.01), professional role (P<0.01 and type of staff (P<0.01) were associated with uptake of vaccination. For completion of vaccination, years of practice (P=0.042) and professional role (P<0.01) The study found a low uptake of hepatitis B vaccination, and even lower complete vaccination rates among the health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Uyo. Years of practice and type/professional role of staff were found to influence uptake and completion of vaccination. Given its importance hepatitis B vaccination is advocated to be included as part of the orientation exercise and periodic examination for hospital staff.