Determinants of hepatitis b vaccine uptake among medical students of Kampala International University, Western Campus-Ishaka
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Date
2019-04
Authors
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Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Hepatitis B, though a preventable and vaccinable infection, has remained a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. HBV is a notifiable infection transmissible through close contact with tissue and body fluids of an infected person. Among those at risk of infection, and reservoirs of spread, are health care workers (medical students included), who through their daily activities, interact with quite a large number of patients, some of whom might be infected. Given the importance of HBV as a deadly, non-curable but easily preventable disease, the government of Uganda directed that all health professionals and those involved in the care of patients, be vaccinated against the condition. KIU-WC is among the health institutions that took up this directive and started vaccinating its staff and students against the virus (at a fee of course). Vaccine take up, especially among the students, did not take of as expected with so many determinants as to why this was so. A descriptive, cross-sectional study that involved 328 Kampala International University, Western Campus medical students aimed to assess the uptake and determinants of Hepatitis B vaccine uptake was conducted and it was found that despite impressive knowledge and good attitudes, vaccine uptake was low (25%), with chief barriers being expensive, inaccessible vaccine that was feared to have side effects
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Hepatitis B vaccine, Medical students, Kampala International University, Western Campus-Ishaka