Publications

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to two billion people in the worldhave been infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV); about 350 million people live with chronicHBV infection, and about 600,000 people die from HBV- related liver disease or HCV eachyear. The Infection is highly endemic in Uganda with a national prevalence estimate of 10%.To the best of my knowledge, there is no data regarding the knowledge, attitude, andinfluence of socio-economic status on hepatitis B infection in secondary school settings inUganda. This study aimed at assessing HBV infection knowledge, HBV vaccination attitude,and the influence of socioeconomic status on HBV vaccination among students of Iganga highschool Iganga District Eastern Uganda. This study used a cross-sectional design that recruiteda total of 247 secondary school students from Iganga High School randomly. The mainmethod that was employed in selecting a sample from the population was a simple randomsampling technique. Questionnaires were the main tools used for data collection andcollected data was analyzed using STATA software version 14.0. Logistic regression analysiswas carried out to determine the socioeconomic factors influencing the immunization statusof Iganga High school students. The mean age of the study participants was 15.9 years witha standard deviation of 2.3 years from the mean. The minimum age was 12 years whereasthe maximum age was 25 years. The mean knowledge score was 5.2 with a standard deviationof 2.4 from the mean, the majority of the study participants 70.04% (173/247) had a low levelof knowledge on HBV infection and 29.96% (74/247) had a high level of knowledge. Themajority of the study participants 68.98% (169/245) had an unfavorable attitude towards HBVvaccination meanwhile 31.02% (76/245) had a favorable attitude. The age group of 12–14years versus the age group of 15–17 years (cOR3.07, 95%CI 1.67 – 5.62, P<0.001). Having anextra job (cOR2.81, 95%CI 1.06 – 7.45, P=0.037) and having heard about HBV (cOR2.04, 95%CI1.07 – 3.90, P=0.029) were the socio-economic factors influencing the hepatitis B vaccinationstatus of study participants. There was a low level of knowledge of Hepatitis B infection andan unfavorable attitude towards Hepatitis B vaccination among students of Iganga HighSchool. The study indicates that the age of the students; having an extra job and hearingabout HBV were the socio-economic factors influencing HBV vaccination among students inIganga high school