Hepatitis B vaccination status and associated factors among people living with HIV in Gulu, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis B vaccination is highly recommended among people with HIV (PWH) because they have a poor prognosis when infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Among PWH, HBV infection s are more likely to progress to chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. It is therefore important that PWH are vaccinated against HBV. However, in Uganda, hepatitis B vaccination among PWH is not standard practice indicating that its uptake may be minimal. We aimed to determine the hepatitis B vaccination status among PWH in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda and the associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 PWH in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda. Proportions of PWH that are fully vaccinated against hepatitis B were reported with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). A modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination, estimating their Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% CI.

RESULTS

The median age of the participants was 37 years, (interquartile range [IQR] 30-45years) and 30.9% (95% CI; 26.3-35.5) were fully vaccinated against HBV. Urban residence (adjusted PR [aPR] = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.17-2.17), family history of Hepatitis B infection (aPR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.06-2.61), and knowledge about HBV (aPR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.06-1.89) were associated with being fully vaccinated against hepatitis B.

CONCLUSION

We found low coverage of hepatitis B vaccination among PWH attending Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Hepatitis B vaccination programs should target PWH living in rural areas, with a low level of education and with no family history of hepatitis B to educate them about HBV vaccine to increase coverage.