Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Poor uptake of hepatitis B vaccination is common among health workers and clinical students who are at higher risk of hepatitis B virus infection. This study assessed the knowledge of clinical students of the OAU, Ile-Ife about hepatitis B virus infection and its modes of prevention. The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among all 594 clinical students of OAU using a pretested self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed electronically. Relationship between independent and outcome variables were tested using Chi square test. Four hundred and thirty (72.4%) respondents correctly identified four modes of transmission; which are use of contaminated needles, sexual intercourse, vertical transmission and infected blood. Four hundred and seventy (79%) respondents reported vaccination as a mode of prevention of HBV infection and 371 (62.5%) reported universal precautions. Only 23 (3.9%) listed post-exposure prophylaxis as a preventive measure. Of all respondents, only 61.6% had ever received vaccine while only 39.2% of the respondents had received at least three doses of HBV vaccine. Females were more likely to have received three doses of the vaccine compared with their male counterparts (p<0.01). Clinical II students were more likely to have received three or more doses of vaccine compared with those in other classes (p=0.024). The study concluded that the clinical students had poor knowledge of safe sexual practices and post-exposure prophylaxis as preventive measures. The uptake of HBV vaccine was also poor. The significant correlates of vaccine uptake were gender and the level of study of the respondents.

Biography

Ajao Kayode Olusola holds a Master of Public health and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor Surgery from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was also trained as a food scientist at Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He successfully served as a Programme Officer on Research and Knowledge Management for Population and Reproductive Health Programme, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife supported by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has a considerable experience in planning and implementing research and health programs.