Hepatitis B vaccination status and associated factors among university students in Ghana: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes Hepatitis B vaccination as the most-effective way of controlling HBV infection. However, knowledge regarding general university students’ population vaccination status remains limited in Ghana. Using data from a survey involving 2712 students from three universities, this study aimed to examine Hepatitis B vaccination status and associated factors among university students in Ghana. Results showed that less than half of the participants (38.2%) have been vaccinated and (57.3%) were yet to complete full vaccination (taken the full three doses of the vaccine). Non-compulsory nature of Hepatitis B vaccination (22.7%), lack of awareness of the vaccination (22.7%), high cost of the vaccination (18.1%), no interest/motivation in the vaccination (16.5%) and availability issues (13.8%) were the common reasons cited for non-vaccination. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, participants who were aged 26 years or above had higher odds of taking Hepatitis B vaccination (AOR: 2.084; CI: 1.530–2.838, p = .001). Also, non-Akans (AOR: 0.746; CI: 0.617–0.902, p = .002), urban residents (AOR: .695; CI: .578-.835, p = .001) and no social support receivers (AOR: .812; CI: .701–1.223, p = .005) had lesser odds of taking Hepatitis B vaccination. This study highlights the urgent need for continued health education on HBV infection and strategies that ensure that students are fully vaccinated. The findings suggest that any interventions design to enhance uptake of Hepatitis B vaccination among students should be sensitive to socio-demographic characteristics especially age, ethnicity, residential status as well as social support.