Factors influencing the uptake of hepatitis B vaccine among health workers in Juba county, South Sudan.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a worldwide problem that is more prevalent in Sub- Saharan Africa. Health care workers are more exposed to HBV and can easily acquire it. According to Tahir, et al (2014), observance of the universal precaution and safety measures and vaccination of people at risk are the main methods of prevention among health care workers. Unfortunately in many African countries including South Sudan, the universal precaution and safety measures are inadequate and vaccination of health workers is not yet implemented as a policy. Besides, there is limited information on the prevalence of HBV among primary healthcare workers and the factors influencing hepatitis B vaccination in South Sudan among them. Objective: This study assessed the uptake of hepatitis B vaccine among health workers in Juba County, South Sudan. Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional design and used a sample population of 384 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and key informer interview guides with the help of research assistants who were trained in the collection of data. The above tools were also pretested. The quantitative data was then analyzed using SPSS and presented in form of tables and graphs while the qualitative data was manually analyzed and presented thematically in form of quotations. Results: The study found that most of the health workers were not vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, others had positive attitude towards uptake of hepatitis B vaccine because they were aware that hepatitis B virus is a serious disease while the rest had poor perception because the vaccines were not available in their health facilities and the health workers had limited knowledge of the HB virus. The study also found that the vaccines were inaccessible, unaffordable, and unavailable. Conclusions and Recommendations: The study concluded that the lack of hepatitis B vaccine in the country is attributed to the fact that the government has been very negligent regarding how best the vice could be controlled and eventually eliminated in the country. The study recommended that the health workers be trained of hepatitis B virus and that the government should avail the vaccines to the health facilities.