Public Health · Pediatrics · 7 h ago
Sierra Leone caregivers anticipate accepting hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine
A qualitative study involving 125 caregivers in six Sierra Leone districts explored views on hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination ahead of its planned national introduction. Participants generally anticipated accepting the vaccine, while emphasizing the need for clear information from trusted health workers.
- 125 caregivers took part in 20 focus groups.
- Participants anticipated accepting the birth-dose vaccine.
- Acceptance depended partly on clear safety information.
- Actual vaccine uptake remains to be assessed.
Before Sierra Leone’s planned national introduction of hepatitis B birth-dose (HepB-BD) vaccination, researchers explored caregivers’ knowledge and perceptions in a qualitative descriptive study. They conducted 20 focus group discussions with 125 caregivers across six districts. Discussions covered hepatitis B, vaccination, the birth-dose vaccine and trusted sources of health information; transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Caregivers commonly had limited knowledge of hepatitis B and uncertainty about its transmission and prevention. Despite this, participants anticipated willingness to accept HepB-BD, citing trust in healthcare workers and confidence in routine childhood immunisation. Acceptance was described as conditional on clear explanations of the vaccine’s purpose, benefits and safety. Community information networks were also reported to shape health decisions.
The findings point to caregiver education, health-worker communication and community engagement as considerations for rollout planning. They reflect anticipated acceptance before implementation, not observed vaccination uptake, and cannot establish whether stated willingness will translate into timely vaccination. The authors call for future research to assess uptake after introduction.
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BMC Public Health: Exploring caregivers’ perspectives and anticipated acceptance of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination before the national introduction in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.