HEPATITIS B INFECTION PREVENTION PRACTICE AND VACCINATION STATUS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN HARGEISA CITY, SOMALILAND

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is an important global public health challenge, with sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected. Healthcare workers faced an increased risk of hepatitis B infection due to their exposure to bodily fluids. However, evidence on hepatitis B infection prevention practices and vaccination status among healthcare providers remains limited in Somaliland. Objective: This study aimed to assess hepatitis B infection prevention practices and hepatitis B vaccination status among Healthcare Workers in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 348 healthcare workers from 14 health facilities in Hargeisa, Somaliland. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess hepatitis B infection prevention practices and vaccination status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with infection prevention practice and vaccination status at a 5% significance level. Result: Nearly half 48% (95% CI: 46.7%–57.3%) of healthcare workers demonstrated good HBV prevention practices, and only 35.1% (95% CI: 30.0%–40.1%) were vaccinated. Poor prevention practice was significantly associated with poor knowledge (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.18–3.62), unfavourable attitudes (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.18–4.48), lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 2.26–9.71), and vaccine unavailability (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.72–8.31). Regarding vaccination status, HCWs were significantly less likely to be vaccinated if they lacked access to PPE (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17–0.81), lacked access to vaccines at their facility (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.09–0.44), were not offered free vaccination (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.90), did not adhere to preventive guidelines (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.76), or possessed poor knowledge regarding the vaccine (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20–0.63). Conclusion: A significant proportion of health professionals were having good hepatitis B virus infection prevention practices, while slightly more than one-third were vaccinated. Overall, there is a lack of best practices and low vaccination rates for hepatitis B prevention. Limited knowledge, unfavourable attitude, lack of personal protective equipment, absence of hepatitis B vaccines, and not adhering to HBV preventive guidelines were found to be significantly associated with hepatitis B infection prevention practices and vaccination status.