Adolescents' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding hepatitis B: Insights and implications for programs targeting vaccine-preventable

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Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 36, Issue 3 , March 2005, Pages 178-186

Society for Adolescent Medicine Published by Elsevier Inc.

Original article

Adolescents' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding hepatitis B:

Insights and implications for programs targeting vaccine-preventable

diseases

Amy B. Slonim Ph.D.a, J. o Ph.D.b, , , Christi R. Downing

B.S.a, Inez F. B.A.a, J. Fasano M.A.c, Loretta

-Satterla

M.S.A.d and Mark A. M.B.A.e

aMichigan Public Health Institute, Okemos, Michigan

bSchool of Communication, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

cNational Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention,

Atlanta, Georgia

dDivision of HIV/AIDS-STD, Michigan Department of Community Health,

Lansing,

Michigan, USA

eSTD Program, Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing,

Michigan

Received 24 March 2003; accepted 24 January 2004. Available online 26

February 2005.

Abstract

Purpose

To gain a better understanding of adolescents' knowledge, beliefs, and

behaviors regarding hepatitis B.

Method

Three types of data were collected as part of this investigation: (a)

45

in-depth individual interviews with staff from 20 adolescent health,

sexually transmitted disease (STD), and family planning clinics; ( 96

individual interviews with adolescents and young adults; and ©

questionnaires completed by 17,063 adolescents and young adults. All

instruments focused on one or more of the following five topics: (a)

knowledge about vaccines; ( knowledge about hepatitis B; © barriers

to

vaccine acceptance, and ways to overcome these barriers; (d) benefits

of the

vaccine acceptance, and ways to enhance these benefits; and (e) eight

hepatitis B risk factors. Interview data was analyzed using qualitative

thematic note-based analyses. Survey data was analyzed using

descriptive

statistics and Chi-square tests.

Results

Adolescents and young adults seen in these clinics know very little

about

vaccinations in general, or hepatitis B, in particular. Adolescents

exhibit

low levels of perceived susceptibility, severity, response efficacy,

and

self-efficacy toward hepatitis B and the hepatitis B vaccine. On

average,

these adolescents engage in 2.36 high-risk behaviors (the most frequent

of

which include sexual activity, body piercing, and tattooing). Those who

were

sexually active, had a tattoo, had a STD, or worked with blood were

significantly more likely to begin the vaccination series.

Conclusions

There is a clear need for additional educational efforts regarding both

vaccinations in general, and hepatitis B in particular. Though

adolescents

are engaging in a variety of high-risk behaviors, most perceive their

risk

to be low, and therefore many are not taking the necessary precautions

to

protect themselves.

M

erinrmos@...

California

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