Factors affecting hepatitis B vaccination among health care workers in Kaberamaido and Lwala health facilities in Kaberamaido district - Uganda.

Abstract

Background: Globally, 2 billion people are exposed to Hepatitis B viral infection, 350 million people are chronically infected, while 65 million alone in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hepatitis B is also a major cause of morbidity with an estimate of 50 -100 times being more infectious than HIV.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the factors affecting hepatitis B vaccination among health care workers in Kaberamaido and Lwala Health facilities in Kaberamaido district.

Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was employed to determine the factors affecting hepatitis B vaccination among health care workers in Kaberamaido and Lwala Health facilities in Kaberamaido district. A total of 369 health workers from Kaberamaido and Lwala health facilities in Kaberamaido district were selected using convenience sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered in epi-info 3.5.4 which was transferred using stat transfers into access and analyzed using SPSS version 16.

Result: From the analysis done, the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination among health workers was 28.5%.The highest Chi-square was (X2=83.951, P=0.000); the lowest was (X2=1.2762, P=0.000) and all these were significantly associated with hepatitis B vaccination.

Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccination was influenced by; definition of hepatitis B, ways of acquiring it, causes, predisposing factors, doses, interval between the doses, route of administration, site of administration and preventive measures. Other factors included; the necessity of hepatitis B vaccination, respondents opinion on hepatitis B vaccination, importance of hepatitis vaccination to HCWs, number of doses received, job exposure, vaccines safeness, and taking the vaccines on request, the availability of the vaccines in the hospital, accessibility of the vaccines, provision for current information about hepatitis B vaccination, attending training on hepatitis B, cost of hepatitis B vaccination, policy on hepatitis B vaccination.