HEPATITIS B VACCINATION COVERAGE AND DETERMINANTS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTHEAST

Healthcare workers (HCWs) face the greatest risk of exposure to a blood-borne infection from hepatitis B virus (HBV). HCWs at a tertiary hospital were surveyed to determine their vaccination status against HBV and the reasons that may have affected their decision to get vaccinated. The research design used was descriptive cross-sectional. Healthcare workers in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria, were randomly recruited from across the cadre to participate in the study. The information was gathered by use of a self-administered, standardized, and pre-tested questionnaire. SPSS version 26 was used for both descriptive and inferential data analyses. In all, 418 HCWs took part in the research. The average age was 35.5 ± 9.1; the vast majority were nurses (53.0%); and 60.3% had been in the workforce for more than 5 years. About 315 (75.4%) respondents had good knowledge of HBV infection, while 290 (69.4%) had good knowledge of the HBV vaccine. Only about 131 (31%) had received a complete vaccination of the HBV vaccine, while 45 (10.8%) had incomplete vaccinations. Vaccine hesitancy was cited by 42 (10%) of respondents, and vaccine accessibility issues were cited by 35 (8.4%). This study showed that despite HCWs in AEFUTHA having a solid understanding of the virus and its vaccine, they are not taking advantage of that information by getting vaccinated against HBV. HCWs need to be informed about the dangers of contracting HBV and other blood-borne diseases through health education programs.