Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Hepatitis B Vaccination among Patients aged 16-40 years attending Buwasa Health Centre IV, Sironko District. A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hepatitis B vaccination among patients aged 16- 40 years attending Buwasa health center IV Sironko District. Methodology: The study involved a descriptive cross-sectional study design to address the specific objectives of the study, on a sample of sixty (60) respondents using a simple random technique as the sampling technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed and used as a data collection tool. Results: Regarding the practices, the majority (90%) of the respondents reported that they had ever been screened against hepatitis B infection, the majority (87%) of those who reported having been screened negative were initiated on vaccination, and more than half (59%) of them had completed the three doses, among the unvaccinated, the most (47%) frequently mentioned reason for non-vaccination was fear of side effects, more than half (55%) had ever been sensitized about the importance of hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusion: the knowledge of hepatitis B vaccination was poor since most of the respondents did not know the complete hepatitis B vaccination schedule, and the intervals between the doses; with a relatively good attitude and fair practices towards hepatitis B vaccination, and this consequently called for the need to raise patient’s awareness about hepatitis B vaccination to improve on the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hepatitis B vaccination. Recommendation: The researcher finally recommended that the government of Uganda through the ministry of health should supply adequate vaccine stock to the facility to ensure consistent availability of the vaccine.

Keywords

• Hepatitis B
• Vaccination
• Sironko District