Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination
Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes nearly 300 million chronic infections globally. Healthcare workers face up to four times the risk of HBV infection through occupational exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. Health sciences students (HSSs) are regarded as at an ev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2023-05-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/834 |
| _version_ | 1797328140540837888 |
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| author | N Makan E Song A Kramvis |
| author_facet | N Makan E Song A Kramvis |
| author_sort | N Makan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes nearly 300 million chronic infections globally. Healthcare workers face up to four times the risk of HBV infection through occupational exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. Health sciences students (HSSs) are regarded as at an even greater risk as they embark on their clinical training journey. While chronic hepatitis B is incurable, it can be prevented by the safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine (HepB). The South African National Department of Health recommends at least three doses of vaccine (HepB3) for HSSs before patient contact. However, data on policy implementation at training institutions, vaccine coverage and HBV immunity in HSSs are lacking or limited.
Objectives. To investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of HSSs at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in relation to international guidelines and institutional HepB programmes included in the Wits vaccination policy. Sociodemographic factors predicting HepB uptake were also investigated.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021. An electronic, self-administered survey was emailed to all current HSSs (N=3 785). The survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and attitudes towards HepB- related international guidelines and Wits policies, and HepB uptake and vaccine practices at Wits. Descriptive statistical analyses, followed by multivariable regression modelling, were used to identify factors associated with HepB uptake.
Results. A response rate of only 7.1% yielded 269 returned surveys, of which 221 were adequate for analysis. Most respondents were female (69.2%), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 22.5 (3.5) years, and were studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB BCh) degree (76.9%). Only 78% of those students who reported a history of vaccination (89.1% of study sample) reported a completed vaccine series. The only significant predictor, when adjusted for interactions, was being enrolled in MB BCh compared with other courses (odds ratio 4.69; p=0.026). Students displayed higher levels of knowledge around institutional (Wits) vaccine recommendations (94.1%) compared with international recommendations (75.6%). Most students were in favour of mandatory vaccination (91.4%), but not of serological testing following vaccination (42.5%). Half of our students received vaccinations in private facilities, but no follow-up or record was made of this by the designated Wits Campus Health and Wellness Centre.
Conclusion. Institutional HepB policies are suboptimal, with no centralised co-ordination or implementation strategy. Urgent efforts are required to create awareness around policy and management, ensure vaccination coverage in this high-risk group, and foster positive practices with adequate monitoring.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:47:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5d3c4ccef2b498989965a27315ff96e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:47:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5d3c4ccef2b498989965a27315ff96e2024-02-03T07:29:43ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352023-05-01113510.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i5.16556Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordinationN Makan0E Song1A Kramvis2 Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa , African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE), School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaHepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes nearly 300 million chronic infections globally. Healthcare workers face up to four times the risk of HBV infection through occupational exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. Health sciences students (HSSs) are regarded as at an even greater risk as they embark on their clinical training journey. While chronic hepatitis B is incurable, it can be prevented by the safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine (HepB). The South African National Department of Health recommends at least three doses of vaccine (HepB3) for HSSs before patient contact. However, data on policy implementation at training institutions, vaccine coverage and HBV immunity in HSSs are lacking or limited. Objectives. To investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of HSSs at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in relation to international guidelines and institutional HepB programmes included in the Wits vaccination policy. Sociodemographic factors predicting HepB uptake were also investigated. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021. An electronic, self-administered survey was emailed to all current HSSs (N=3 785). The survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and attitudes towards HepB- related international guidelines and Wits policies, and HepB uptake and vaccine practices at Wits. Descriptive statistical analyses, followed by multivariable regression modelling, were used to identify factors associated with HepB uptake. Results. A response rate of only 7.1% yielded 269 returned surveys, of which 221 were adequate for analysis. Most respondents were female (69.2%), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 22.5 (3.5) years, and were studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB BCh) degree (76.9%). Only 78% of those students who reported a history of vaccination (89.1% of study sample) reported a completed vaccine series. The only significant predictor, when adjusted for interactions, was being enrolled in MB BCh compared with other courses (odds ratio 4.69; p=0.026). Students displayed higher levels of knowledge around institutional (Wits) vaccine recommendations (94.1%) compared with international recommendations (75.6%). Most students were in favour of mandatory vaccination (91.4%), but not of serological testing following vaccination (42.5%). Half of our students received vaccinations in private facilities, but no follow-up or record was made of this by the designated Wits Campus Health and Wellness Centre. Conclusion. Institutional HepB policies are suboptimal, with no centralised co-ordination or implementation strategy. Urgent efforts are required to create awareness around policy and management, ensure vaccination coverage in this high-risk group, and foster positive practices with adequate monitoring. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/834Hepatitis B virusvaccine coverage |
| spellingShingle | N Makan E Song A Kramvis Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination South African Medical Journal Hepatitis B virus vaccine coverage |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis B vaccination at a South African university highlight the need for improvement of policies, implementation and co-ordination |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices of undergraduate health sciences students on hepatitis b vaccination at a south african university highlight the need for improvement of policies implementation and co ordination |
| topic | Hepatitis B virus vaccine coverage |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/834 |
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