HEPATITIS B VACCINATION STATUS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS INA HOSPITAL OF KICUKIRO DISTRICT-KIGALI, RWANDA

Abstract

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus remains a major concern to world health; Hepatitis B virus infection is contracted to health care workers (HCWs) who happen to have contact with patient blood and bodily fluids. Given that HBV infection is a proven occupational hazard, unvaccinated healthcare workers run the risk of catching the pathogen while at work. In comparison to the population as a whole, healthcare workers (HCWs) are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the risk of contracting HBV infection. According to WHO, 2 million HBV infections worldwide arise from 3 million HCWs suffering work-related injuries each year, with 70% of those infections taking place in the WHO AFRO region. Due to exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids, especially through percutaneous injuries, HCWs are at a significant risk of developing the HBV. The results show that HCWs in Africa have a high risk of contracting hepatitis B. According to a thorough investigation and meta-analysis on the hepatitis B vaccination rate among healthcare professionals in Africa, 25% of them had got all three doses of the vaccine. Hepatitis B is highly endemic in sub-Saharan countries; insufficient Vaccination is the main reason why hepatitis B still prevails in sub-Saharan countries. Nevertheless, there is limited   data on HBV vaccination status and factors associated with HBV vaccination among Rwandan health care workers. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of HBV vaccination among healthcare workers and other relevant variables in a hospital of Kicukiro-District, Kigali-Rwanda. This study employed analytical cross-sectional methodology to investigate the relationship between HBV vaccination status and different factors among 194 health care workers (doctors, nurses, laboratorians, and others) in Masaka district hospital.Gathered data were analyzed using STATA 15 at monovariable, bivariable, and multivariable analysis levels. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were computed to identify participants’ characteristics associated with being vaccinated for HBV. During analysis, a statistical significance was assumed at a p value less than 0.05.  The findings from this study show that of the 194 HCWs, about 80.4% (n=156) had received at least one dose of HBV vaccine with only 66.0% (n=128) fully vaccinated.  Regarding predictors of HBV vaccination among the HCWs; Clinical staffs were 72.3 [aOR: 72.3 with 95% C.I: 5.4-974.3] times more likely to be vaccinated than non-clinical staffs while HCWs self-perceiving to be at risk of HBV acquisition were 16.5 [aOR:16.5 with 95% C.I: 1.2-219.2] folds more likely to be vaccinated for HBV than those who do not. Overall, this study reveals HBV vaccination is still low as compared to the 100% CDC recommendation for HCWs and other people at high risk of HBV acquisition. Thus, the need for health promotion programs and interventions to avail and address main barriers to the uptake of vaccination including lack of information which make some people perceive to be at low risk of HIBV infection.