title: Are Kenyan healthcare workers willing to receive the pandemic influenza vaccine? Results from a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in Kenya about knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning infection with and vaccination against 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), 2010.
abstract: Over 1200 cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) have been identified in Kenya since the first case in June 2009. In April 2010 the Kenyan government launched a program to immunize high-risk groups and healthcare workers (HCWs) with pH1N1 vaccines donated by the World Health Organization. To characterize HCWs' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding pH1N1 vaccination, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative survey in 20 healthcare facilities across Kenya between January 11 and 26, 2010. Of 659 HCWs interviewed, 55% thought there was a vaccine against pH1N1, and 89% indicated that they would receive pH1N1 vaccine if it became available. In focus group discussions, many HCWs said that pH1N1 virus infection did not cause severe disease in Kenyans and questioned the need for vaccination. However, most were willing to accept vaccination if they had adequate information on safety and efficacy. In order for the influenza vaccination campaign to be successful, HCWs must understand that pH1N1 can cause severe disease in Kenyans, that pH1N1 vaccination can prevent HCWs from transmitting influenza to their patients, and that the vaccine has been widely used globally with few recognized adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya (KEMRI/CDC-Kenya), Nairobi, Kenya. poria@ke.cdc.gov
authors.forename: Prisca A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Oria
authors.forename: Wycliffe
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Matini
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nelligan
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emukule
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherzer
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oyier
authors.forename: Hezron N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ochieng
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanyuga
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muthoka
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nzioka
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Breiman
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines