Vaccination Coverage and the Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection amongst Medical and Paramedical Students Practicing at the Bamenda Regional Hospital in Cameroon Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: The endemic nature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant public health problem that places health care providers (medical students inclusive) at increased risk of occupational exposure. However, vaccination against HBV is not systematic among medical students in Cameroon. Thus, we sought to evaluate awareness and HBV vaccine coverage amongst medical students in Cameroon. Aim: The present study was aimed at determining the proportion of Medical and Paramedical students on internship at the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) who are vaccinated and immune to hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods: This was a hospital-based cross sectional study carried out at the BRH in Cameroon. Questionnaires were administered to 120 participants who signed an informed consent form and venous blood samples collected in dry tubes for the HBV-5 PANEL test. Data were collected within a period of two weeks. HBV vaccine status was de-fined as complete (3 doses), partial (1 or 2 doses), and unvaccinated. Results: Of 120 participants (87 females and 33 males), 56 (46.7%) were vaccinated at least once against HBV; 15 (12.5%) were partially vaccinated and 41 (34.2%) completely vaccinated. Out of the 56 vaccinated individuals, only 13 (23.2%) washing and the proper use of personal protective equipment. A prevalence of 3.1% of HBV amongst the unvaccinated group was recorded. Conclusion: Only 1 in 3 medical students had completed the HBV vaccination series and only 26.8% of this cohort was confirmed immunized against HBV. This high-lights the need for improved health policies aimed at increasing access and coverage of HBV immunization in high risk groups such as health workers.


Introduction
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem affecting millions of people every year and causing disability and death [1]. Globally, it is estimated that approximately 257 million people are infected, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries [2] [3]. About 1 million people die each year (~2.7% of all deaths) from causes related to viral hepatitis, mostly liver disease including liver cancer and cirrhosis [1] [4]. Hence, it is considered the tenth leading cause of death worldwide [5]. Despite the increasing seroprevalence, there is no routine screening of high risk groups in most countries because of lack of public awareness, inadequate funding for health care settings, and the expensive nature of the test [6]. Though the lifetime risk of contracting HBV in the general population is 4.8%, this can be reduced significantly through vaccination. For example, infant vaccination reduces this value by 68%, while adolescent vaccination reduces it by 45% [7]. Health care personnel (including Medical and Paramedical students) are at an unavoidable higher risk of contracting blood borne pathogens like HBV due to their interaction with patients [8]. Fortunately, Hepatitis B virus vaccine has been present for over three decades to prevent this well-known occupational disease [5]. Immunization is achieved in 95% of the population following the administration of three doses of HBV vaccine at zero, first and the sixth month respectively. To ascertain the immunity, antibodies against HBV surface antigens (anti-HBs) are measured 6 to 8 weeks following the administration of the third dose of the vaccine. Anti-HBs greater than 100 IU/mL imply good response to the vaccine while values between 10 and 100 IU/mL will require immediate booster dose to improve response and antibodies measured again in 6 to 8 weeks' time. Furthermore, all those vaccinated need a booster dose of the vaccine after 10 years since the antibody titer declines with time [9]. The vaccine is produced following the purification of HBsAg obtained from the plasma of persons with chronic HBV infection [10] [11] [12]. This vaccine is meant to prevent HBV infection and its associated liver complications [10]. To achieve this, the vaccine must trigger an immune response which would produce anti-HBs at a concentration of >10 IU/mL at least 1 month and at most 2 months after the 3 rd dose [13] [14]. About 5% -15% of vaccines may not develop the expected immune response following the complete dose administration of the vaccine [15]. Usually, about 30% -50% of people who do not respond to a primary 3-dose vaccine series with anti-HBs concentrations of >10 IU/mL, may respond to an additional vaccine dose or to a 3-dose revaccination series [15] [16]. Vaccination coverage of healthcare personnel (HCP) against this virus remains low especially in some developing countries. For example; in a research to determine the prevalence and vaccination coverage against HBV among HCP in Cameroon of a seroprevalence survey, only 199 (11.4%) of the 1747 participants were fully vaccinated [17]. In this study, we aimed at investigating vaccination coverage and the assessment of risk factors for HBV amongst medical and paramedical students on internship at the Bamenda Regional Hospital in Cameroon.

Methods
This was a hospital-based cross sectional study that made use of a self-administered questionnaire and the Aria HBV-5 RAPID TEST for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), hepatitis B viral protein (HBeAg), antibodies against hepatitis B viral protein (anti-HBe) and antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc).
The study was carried out at the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) within the month of June 2020. The study population consisted of Medical and Paramedical students practicing at the BRH. Blood samples for the acquisition of biological data were collected from participants who consented and completed a questionnaire designed to obtain demographic data (age, sex, marital status) and information regarding knowledge of HBsAg status, whether or not they have received the HBV vaccine, the number of doses, the reason for non-vaccination for those who had not been vaccinated and their knowledge about the possible risk factors or exposure to HBV at their area of work. The questionnaire was made in English, pre-tested for clarity in a pilot study and adjusted accordingly. The sample size was calculated using the Cochran formula ( ) ; where n = minimum required sample size, z = confidence level at 95% (standard value of 1.96), p = estimated prevalence of the infection among the population under investigation and d = type 1 error set at 5%. According to a previous study involving medical and paramedical staff of the Central Hospital in Yaounde-Cameroon, the prevalence of hepatitis B was 6.6% [18]. Hence, For this study, we had a total of 120 participants.

Ethical Considerations
Ethical Clearance according to the Declaration of Helsinki was sought from the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda. Authorization was also gotten from the Director of the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Written informed consents were obtained from participants following careful explanation of the study protocol.

Statistical Analysis
Results were recorded into a log book; filled questionnaires coded and all data obtained keyed into Microsoft Office Excel and imported to Statistical Software Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 for statistical analysis. Categorical variables were summarized using proportions and displayed on Tables and Charts.

Results
This study involved 120 participants; 87 (72.5%) females and 33 ( (Figure 1). Reasons provided by the non-vaccinated group included; lack of money (73%), lack of time (8%), not aware of the existence of the HBV vaccine (8%), not aware of where to get the vaccine (6%), scared of side effects (3%) and rather scared of being infected by HBV through the administration of a vaccine (2%). Out of the 56 vaccinated participants, only 13 (23.2%) were actually immune to HBV by testing positive for anti-HBs. A greater proportion of the vaccinated participants 43 (76.8%) were negative for anti-HBs and not immunized against HBV (Figure 2).  The main body fluids study participants were exposed to included blood (97.5% of participants), vaginal discharge (88%), urine (87.5%) and sweat (86.3%). Other body fluids exposed to included CSF, sputum and saliva: 39.2%, 28.3% and 26.7% respectively (Figure 3). The highest exposure activity was the use of syringes for injection (55.9%), followed by venous blood collection (33.9%) ( Table 2). Regular hand washing was practiced by 67 (55.8%) students while 47 (39.3%) washed their hands at times and 6 (5.0%) students rarely engaged in this practice (Figure 4). Regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 55 (45.8%) students admitted to the regular use of PPE before any contacts with body fluids whereas the remaining 65 (54.2%) personnel did not use PPE regularly ( Figure 5). All participants (100%) were aware they are exposed to HBV by the nature of their job.

Discussion
This study was to determine the vaccination coverage of medical and paramedical students practicing at the Bamenda Regional Hospital in Cameroon Sub Saharan Africa. We noted that less than 50 per cent of these students had received the HBV vaccine and only 34 per cent of the vaccinated group had actually taken all three required doses of the vaccine. This is similar to studies carried out in other developing countries like Nigeria with a proportion of those who had received all three doses of the vaccine to be 34.8 per cent [19], but higher compared to a previous study in Cameroon with just 16.8 per cent of the participants who had received all three doses of the vaccine [20]. However, in a study involving health care workers; doctors and nurses in the United States of America (USA), a high proportion (81%) of the participants had received at least three doses of the vaccine [21]. The difference in vaccination coverage from one county to another could be explained by the fact that some governments have strict health care personnel vaccination policies whereas others do not [22] [23].
In this study, of the 56 students who had been vaccinated against HBV, only 13 (23.2%) participants were positive for antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen confirming immunization against the virus. The results were in line with a study in Nigeria by Olumuyiwa Odusanya et al. [24] where these antibodies were detected in 17.9 per cent of the vaccinated participants. We therefore emphasize on the fact that although an individual may have received the vaccine, there is need to verify for immunization post the vaccination process.
Six to eight weeks after completion of vaccination, it is necessary to measure anti-HBs in order to confirm immunization or the need for re-vaccination/booster vaccine; however, only 3 (5.4%) of the fully vaccinated participants in this study had undergone antibody testing to confirm their immunization status. We propose the need for sensitization and strict vaccination policies to ensure that those vaccinated especially health workers at high risk, are actually protected against this infection.
Two (3.1%) of the 64 participants who had not been vaccinated against HBV tested positive for HBsAg following a rapid screening procedure. It was noted from this study that almost all participants (97.5%) are exposed to blood either during procedures like setting up of intravenous lines, medical laboratory diagnostic activities or during major or minor surgical procedures. Given the fact that HBV is found in high concentrations in blood of infected individuals, the high prevalence of the virus in Cameroon but a low vaccination/immunization coverage, medical workers including medical or paramedical students on internship are at high risk of contracting the infection, necessitating health measures or government policies to enhance prevention.
We realized in current study that despite the high rate of exposure to potentially infectious biological fluids by participants, only 55.8% of the medical and paramedical students do disinfect their hands regularly by washing them during or after their routine activities involving getting in contact with these body fluids ( Figure 4). Thus, an increase in their chances of contracting or transmitting highly infectious pathogens like HBV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and this is exacerbated by the irregular use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by more than 50 per cent of the study participants ( Figure 5). High exposure to hepatitis B in this study is comparable to that of Attaullah et al. [23] with occupational exposure through drawing of blood, recapping of syringes, disposal of used needles, insertion of drip, trash collections, surgical procedures, collision with sharp objects, fluid splashes, and cleaning of instruments.
Considering the unvaccinated group, up to 73 per cent of participants complained of lack of money as reason for not having taken the vaccine. In our setting, these vaccines are usually free during vaccination campaigns but are actually paid for off such periods and at a cost that might not permit non-salary earners like students to obtain. We therefore suggest that authorities of health institutions should consider sponsoring or subsidizing the HBV vaccine to facilitate and ensure its acquisition by students prior to their final year of internship in a hospital environment.

Conclusion
HBV infection is an important occupational hazard among health care personnel potentially preventable by vaccination and compliance to bio-safety measures at work. From this study, immunity against HBV due to vaccination amongst medical and paramedical students working at the BRH is low. Only 13 (23.21%) of the 56 vaccinated students were actually immune to HBV by testing positive for anti-HBs. The prevalence of HBV following a screening exercise for participants in the unvaccinated group was 3.1%. Exposure is mainly by injuries due to the use of syringes for injection or blood sampling, and surgical procedures with poor practice of biosafety measures. We recommend strict government policies regarding vaccination against HBV, and the organization of regular seminars or educational programs by hospital authorities especially in developing countries, to ensure that safety measures are reliably followed by health workers to curb the spread of HBV and other life threatening infectious diseases.

Limitation of the Study
The Aria HBV-5 Rapid Test is limited to the qualitative detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc in human serum or plasma. Data regarding vaccination status was obtained through self-provided information which could be subjected to recall bias.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.