PATTERN OF ACCEPTANCE OF HEPATITIS B VACCINATION AMONG CLINICAL STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN

Abstract

Hepatitis B infection is one of the most important occupational hazards for clinical staff of hospitals. Despite the availability of an effective hepatitis B vaccine, information is scanty on the acceptance of this vaccine and factors influencing decision to accept it. This study was therefore carried out to identify pattern of acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination among clinical staff at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey involving 438 clinical staff members who have regular contact with blood and other body fluids and by implication have had possible exposure to hepatitis B infection were carried out. The instrument was a semi-structured questionnaire which was self-completed by the respondents. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11. The respondents comprised of nurses (96), physicians (145), dentists (39), laboratory scientists (37), surgeons (67), obstetricians and gynaecologists (54). The ages of the respondents ranged between 21 and 65 years with a mean score of 39 (±9). All respondents had worked for at least one year in the hospital. Majority of the respondents (69.9%) had history of needle-prick injury. More than two-third (79.7%) had frequent accidental exposure to blood or other body fluids. Three hundred and seventy-two respondents (84.9%) agreed to being more at risk of HBV infection than other persons. Overall, the respondents scored an average of 22.3 points (±2.82) on a 27- point hepatitis B knowledge scale with those specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology having a significantly higher mean score of 23.7 (p< 0.05). Most of the respondents (78.8%) agreed that hepatitis B infection is a serious disease. Out of 411 respondents who answered the questions on vaccination status, only (56.0%) were vaccinated. The physicians had the highest acceptance rate (61.9%) followed by the surgeons (57.6%), obstetricians and gynaecologists (55.1%), nurses (51.7%), dentists (51.3%), and laboratory scientists (47.2%). Ninety-three (40.4%) of those who had accepted the vaccine were persons aged between 31and 40 years of age, who had spent less than 10 years in the profession. The commonest reasons for accepting the vaccine were awareness of the importance of Hepatitis B vaccination and fear of hepatitis B virus infection. The factors strongly associated with the acceptance of the vaccination were type of specialty, age of personnel (≤ 40 years), number of years spent in the profession (≤ 10 years), and knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection. Among those that were not immunized, concern about side effects of the vaccine (39.2%), and lack of time (36.5%) were the major reasons given for not receiving the vaccination. A good number of the respondents suggested free offer of vaccination (32.6%) and more education on the efficacy of the vaccine (31.3%) as best ways of encouraging better acceptance of the vaccine. The study shows that knowledge about hepatitis B was high, attitude was positive but uptake was low. There was still considerable gap in adoption of this preventive behaviour. Health education is needed to encourage compliance.