Individual Factors Influencing Hepatitis B Vaccination Uptake among Nurses Working at Mbagathi County Hospital

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the hepatitis B vaccination coverage and barriers to its uptake among nurses at Mbagathi County Hospital. Rooted in health behavior theories, it sought to assess the social demographic factors, individual factors, and facility-related factors influencing Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among nurses working at Mbagathi County Hospital. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population encompassed all nurses working at the hospital, totaling 168. Through a proportionate simple random sampling technique, a sample size of 118 nurses was identified for the study. The inclusion criteria focused on qualified nurses actively working in high-exposure areas, while those on leave, in administrative roles, or under training were excluded. Data collection was achieved using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire, which was pretested for reliability and validity. Data management involved the utilization of Microsoft Excel for initial entry, followed by advanced statistical analysis using SPSS software version 25. Findings: The results indicate that knowledge and awareness of Hepatitis B and its vaccination vary among nurses, with 60.5% reporting moderate knowledge and 34.2% indicating a high level of awareness. Only 5.3% reported low knowledge, suggesting that most nurses have an adequate understanding of Hepatitis B. The Chi-Square test results in Table 2 provide statistical evidence on the relationship between individual factors and Hepatitis B vaccination uptake among nurses at Mbagathi County Hospital. The test assesses whether there is a significant association between categorical variables, such as knowledge levels, risk perception, susceptibility, attitudes, and past vaccination experiences, with the likelihood of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine. The Pearson Chi-Square value of 65.457 with 4 degrees of freedom (df) and a p-value of 0.000 indicates a highly significant relationship between individual factors and vaccine uptake. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This suggests that factors such as nurses’ knowledge about Hepatitis B, perceived susceptibility, and attitudes toward vaccination play a critical role in determining their immunization status.