Hepatitis A Virus Vaccination Status and Related Factors among College Students

Article information

Korean J Health Promot. 2014;14(3):103-111

Publication date (electronic) : 2014 January 20

doi : https://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2014.14.3.103

Jae Seong Baek ¹^,², Mi Ah Han ³^,, Jong Park ³, Na-Ra Yun ⁴

¹Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Health Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea

²Department of Management Planning, Gochang General Hospital, Gochang, Korea

³Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea

⁴Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea

Corresponding author：Mi Ah Han, MD, PhD Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-759, Korea Tel: +82-62-230-6481, Fax: +82-62-225-8293 E-mail: mahan@chosun.ac.kr

Received 2014 April 04; Accepted 2014 August 18.

Abstract

Background

Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The purpose of this study was to investigate the HAV vaccination status and related factors among college students.

Methods

The study subjects were 503 students conveniently sampled from C university located in one district of Jeollanamdo. General characteristics and HAV vaccination related factors were collected by a self-reported questionnaire in October 2013. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate related factors with HAV vaccination.

Results

Of the 503 subjects without a history of HAV infection, 65 subjects (12.9%) reported that they were vaccinated. In multiple analyses, subjects who have had health screening (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=2.44 and 95% confidence interval, 95% CI=1.26–4.73) and those who were aware of HAV infection (aOR=6.00, 95% CI=1.81–19.91) or who perceived the benefits of HAV vaccine (aOR=2.05, 95% CI=1.07–3.93) were more likely to be vaccinated than those not involved in these factors. With regard to intention for HAV vaccine, 314 subjects (71.9%) reported that they have the intention to be vaccinated against HAV. In multiple analyses, higher grade level, high monthly allowance, awareness of HAV vaccine, perceived susceptibility of HAV, perceived seriousness of HAV and perceived benefits of HAV vaccine were significantly associated with the intention for HAV vaccination.

Conclusions

The vaccination rate for HAV was found to be low in our sample of college students. To reduce health risks related with HAV, prevention efforts should consider these results.

Keywords: Hepatitis A; Risk factors; Vaccination

Table 1.

General characteristics of study participants

Table 2.

HAV awareness and vaccination status^a

Table 3.

Proportion of vaccination and intention by subject's characteristics

Table 4.

Adjusted odds ratios for HAV vaccination and intentions

References

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Article information Continued

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Table 1.

General characteristics of study participants

Characteristics	N (%)
Sex
Male	252 (50.1)
Female	251 (49.9)
Major
Health care related group	245 (48.7)
Non-health care related group	258 (51.3)
Grade level^a
1	204 (40.6)
2	103 (20.5)
3	123 (24.5)
4	73 (14.5)
Monthly allowance, Korean Won
≤200,000	178 (35.4)
210,000 to 300,000	183 (36.4)
≥310,000	142 (28.2)
School record^b
High	136 (27.1)
Middle	265 (52.8)
Low	101 (20.1)
Father's education level
≤Middle school	67 (13.3)
High school	271 (53.9)
≤College	165 (32.8)
Mother's education level
≤Middle school	68 (13.5)
High school	306 (60.8)
≤College	129 (25.7)
Frequency of alcohol use^a
None	40 (8.0)
<1/month	121 (24.1)
≥1/month	342 (68.0)
Smoking status^a
Never smoker	353 (70.2)
Ex-smoker	30 (6.0)
Current smoker	120 (23.9)
Family history of liver disease
No	443 (88.1)
Yes	60 (11.9)
Health screening
Yes	319 (63.4)
No	184 (36.6)
Private insurance
Yes	445 (88.5)
No	58 (11.5)

Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Excluded one case with missing value.

Table 2.

HAV awareness and vaccination status^a

HAV awareness among all subjects	N=503
[Awareness] Have you heard about HAV infection?^b Yes No	381 (75.8) 122 (24.3)
[Awareness] Have you heard about HAV vaccine? Yes No	354 (70.4) 149 (29.6)
[Perceived susceptibility] Do you think you can be easily infected with HAV? Yes No	355 (70.6) 148 (29.4)
[Perceived seriousness] Do you think HAV infection is a serious disease? Yes No	250 (49.7) 253 (50.3)
[Perceived benefits] Do you think HAV infection is preventable after HAV vaccination? Yes No	336 (66.8) 167 (33.2)
HAV vaccination Yes No Do not know	65 (12.9) 207 (41.2) 231 (45.9)
Characteristics related to HAV vaccination	N=65
First vaccination age, y^b	17.8±5.2
≤9 10 to 19 ≥20	5 (8.1) 19 (30.7) 38 (61.3)
Second vaccination age, y^b	18.1±5.3
≤9 10 to 19 ≥20	4 (8.2) 14 (28.6) 31 (63.3)
Time interval between 1st and 2nd vaccination, mon^b
<6 6 to 12 ≥13	12 (19.4) 32 (51.6) 5 (8.1)
Did not receive second vaccination Place of vaccination	13 (21.0)
Community health center Local hospital/clinic General hospital Others	14 (22.6) 37 (59.7) 5 (8.1) 6 (9.7)
Reason for vaccination^b Self-decision Family opinion Health professional recommendation Others	19 (30.7) 27 (43.6) 8 (12.9) 8 (12.9)
Characteristics of HAV unvaccinated subjects	N=437
Perceived reason for not having HAV vaccinations^b
Didn't know about vaccine No need for vaccine No time High cost Afraid of injection Unconvinced about efficacy of vaccine Afraid of side-effects Others	152 (34.8) 98 (22.4) 61 (14.0) 39 (8.9) 27 (6.2) 7 (1.6) 6 (1.4) 47 (10.8)
Perceived facilitators to future HAV vaccine uptake^b Health professional recommendation Useful information about vaccination Reduction of vaccination cost Plenty of time Other vaccination methods such as oral pills except injection Single shot vaccine without second dose Others	118 (27.1) 85 (19.5) 85 (19.5) 52 (11.9) 46 (10.6) 34 (7.8) 16 (3.7)
Intention for HAV vaccination^b Yes No	314 (71.9) 123 (28.2)

Abbreviation: HAV, hepatitis A virus.

Values are presented as N (%) or mean±SD.