Hepatitis B screening and vaccination status of healthcare providers in Wakiso district, Uganda

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 7; p. e0235470
• Main Authors: Ssekamatte, Tonny, Mukama, Trasias, Kibira, Simon P. S, Ndejjo, Rawlance, Bukenya, Justine Nnakate, Kimoga, Zirimala Paul Alex, Etajak, Samuel, Nuwematsiko, Rebecca, Buregyeya, Esther, Ssempebwa, John C, Isunju, John Bosco, Mugambe, Richard Kibirango, Nalugya, Aisha, Wafula, Solomon Tsebeni, Mutyoba, Joan Nankya, Chemin, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 09.07.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Demographic aspects; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnosis; Disease control; DNA; Environmental health; Guidelines; Health aspects; Health care; Health care facilities; Health facilities; Health risks; Health screening; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B vaccines; Hepatitis B virus; Immunization; Infections; Medical personnel; Medicine and Health Sciences; People and Places; Prevention; Public health; Risk perception; Sex; Surveys; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viruses; Uganda; Kampala Uganda
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235470

Screening and vaccination against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the most effective intervention in curbing the disease. However, there is limited evidence on the factors associated with the uptake of these services in Uganda. This study determined the uptake of HBV screening and vaccination status, and associated factors among Healthcare Providers (HCPs) in Wakiso district, Uganda. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 HCPs, randomly selected from 55 healthcare facilities. Prevalence ratios (PR) were used to determine the factors associated with HBV screening and vaccination status of HCPs. Of the 306 HCPs, 230 (75.2%) had ever screened for HBV infection while 177 (57.8%) were fully vaccinated. Being male was positively associated with 'ever been screened' for HBV infection (Adjusted PR = 1.27, 95%CI 1.13-1.41). Working in a public healthcare facility (Adjusted PR = 0.78, 95%CI 0.68-0.90) was negatively associated with ever been screened. Male sex (Adjusted PR = 1.21, 95%CI 1.01-1.46), the belief that the HBV vaccine was safe (Adjusted PR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.03-2.89) and ever been screened (Adjusted PR = 2.28, 95%CI 1.56-3.34) were positively associated with being fully vaccinated. However, working in a public healthcare facility (Adjusted PR = 0.79, 95%CI 0.64-0.98), self-perceived risk of HBV infection (Adjusted PR = 0.72, 95% CI:0.62-0.84), and working in a healthcare facility with infection control guidelines (Adjusted PR = 0.79, 95%CI 0.66-0.95) were negatively associated with being fully vaccinated. Three quarters of HCPs had ever been screened for HBV while slightly more than half were fully vaccinated. HBV screening and vaccination interventions need to consider the HCP sex, risk perception, attitude towards safety and efficacy of the hepatitis B vaccine, and healthcare facility characteristics such as ownership and availability of infection control guidelines, in order to be successful.