VACCINATION

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a potential occupational biological hazard to medical and nursing students who are frequently exposed to blood and bodily fluids during clinical rotations, and the Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the most effective and safest prevention measures. Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, and uptake of the Hepatitis B vaccination, including its determinants, among medical and nursing students at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to March 2026, among 646 respondents, comprising 324 medical students and 322 nursing students. A multistage sampling technique was used to select students across preclinical and clinical levels. Data was collected using a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate (Chi-square) and multivariate (Binary Logistic Regression) analyses were utilised, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.47 ± 2.72 years. Overall, 83.0% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge of Hepatitis B and its vaccination, while 17.0% had poor knowledge. Most respondents (91.0%) exhibited a positive attitude, which was strongly predicted by good knowledge (OR = 4.078; p < 0.001). However, actual vaccination uptake was critically low, with 73.8% of students remaining completely unvaccinated and only 10.7% having completed the three-dose series. Logistic regression showed that clinical exposure significantly predicted good knowledge (p < 0.001), while course of study predicted vaccination uptake, with medical students significantly more likely to be vaccinated than nursing students 15 (OR = 2.035; p = 0.022). Lack of awareness of vaccination centres (42.1%), vaccine cost (28.9%), and lack of time (26.4%) were reported as the major barriers to vaccination. Conclusion: Despite possessing high theoretical knowledge and a positive attitude towards the HBV vaccine, the actual vaccination practice among medical and nursing students is critically inadequate. Systemic barriers, specifically cost and logistical challenges, are the primary barriers preventing positive attitudes from translating into practice. Strengthening targeted awareness campaigns, subsidising vaccine costs, and integrating proactive vaccination policies into the curriculum will enhance uptake and optimise occupational safety during clinical training.