Determination of knowledge level and vaccination status of nursing students regarding hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccine

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 343 - 352, 30.05.2025

Rıdvan Bayram

https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1679398

Abstract

Aims: The study was conducted to determine the knowledge level and vaccination status of nursing students regarding hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccine.
Methods: The universe of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 747 students studying at the department of nursing. In the study, a 43-item questionnaire form and the vaccine hesitancy scale were used.
Results: Of the students, 77.7% were female. The mean age was 20.68±1.68. Eight percent of the students had a chronic disease and 2.1% were diagnosed with hepatitis (71.4% hepatitis B). Of the students, 77.3% had hepatitis B vaccine. Students stated that those who were injected with the same injector (77.8%), who received blood transfusions (72.2%), and who had heterosexual intercourse ranked in the top three in the hepatitis risk group (63.9%). Students stated that the primary modes of hepatitis transmission were: 93.6% through blood, 78.8% through needlestick injuries with infected injectors, and 72.7% through sexual intercourse. The most accurate information that the students had about hepatitis was the existence of hepatitis B vaccine (96.9%) and hepatitis B carriers (77%). The mean knowledge level of the students about hepatitis was 5.22±1.92. The mean score that the students obtained from the vaccine hesitancy scale was 31.25±6.18. It was found that there was a significant relationship between knowledge level and vaccine hesitancy (p<0.005).
Conclusion: Levels of hepatitis B knowledge and vaccine hesitancy are moderate in nursing students. It is recommended to provide training and awareness activities for nursing students in this regard.

Keywords

Hepatitis, health knowledge, vaccine hesitancy, nursing, students

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