TITLE:
Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Its Predictors among Health Workers in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Serge Ngekeng, Alain Chichom-Mefire, Peter Fon Nde, Nicholas Tendongfor, Emmanuel Kah Nji, Esembeson Malika, Simeon P. Choukem
KEYWORDS:
Vaccination Coverage, Health Care Workers, Predictors
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The occupational risk of hepatitis B among health care workers (HCWs) has been long known. Despite a WHO recommendation for hepatitis B vaccine for all HCWs, coverage in Cameroon remains very low. This study investigates the hepatitis B vaccination coverage and its predictors among HCWs in Cameroon and evaluates their perceptions concerning the disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out where structured questionnaires were used to obtain data from HCWs in 24 different health institutions within the Fako Division from February to May 2019. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 643 participants were recruited with a male to female ratio of 0.33. Of the participants, 52.41% had a high risk perception of hepatitis B as a disease. The overall ≥ 1 and ≥3 dose vaccination coverage was 27.37% and 12.91%, respectively. Hospital vaccination policy [aOR = 4.25 (95% CI 2.43 - 7.46), p p p = 0.04] and longer working experience [aOR = 2.33 (95% CI, 1.1 - 4.92), p = 0.03] were independent predictors of ≥3 dose vaccination coverage. Conclusion: The risk perception of hepatitis B among HCWs in Fako Division is low but however not associated with a low vaccination coverage among these HCWs. Strategies to improve vaccination coverage among HCWs should target the above-identified predictors.