ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B remains a significant public health concern, particularly among healthcare students who are at heightened risk due to their clinical exposure. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and vaccination uptake of Hepatitis B among undergraduate clinical students at a tertiary educational institution. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling technique to select 294 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. The findings revealed that 83% of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge of Hepatitis B infection, with 71.4% aware of the associated vaccination services at their institution. A high-risk perception was reported, with 67% of participants feeling at high risk during clinical postings. However, vaccination rates indicated that only 64.6% of participants were fully vaccinated against Hepatitis B, while 23.8% were partially vaccinated, and 11.6% remained unvaccinated. Barriers to vaccination uptake included time management issues (54.4%) and vaccine side effects (56.1%). Institutional support, 68% acknowledging sufficient encouragement and information provision, yet 59.5% felt there was inadequate information about the benefits of vaccination. While the study participants exhibited a strong awareness of Hepatitis B and its associated risks, the vaccination coverage remained suboptimal. Interventions that improve knowledge and accessibility may effectively boost vaccination rates among clinical students. It is recommended that healthcare institutions enhance their educational efforts regarding Hepatitis B prevention, increase the availability of vaccination services on campus, and implement strategies to address scheduling and cost concerns.

Keywords: Uptake, Hepatitis B Vaccine, Undergraduate, Clinical students, Tertiary educational institution