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Background <p>There is an urgent need to disseminate information about rubella disease among secondary school-aged adolescents because of its heavy burden, especially among female adolescents.</p> Objective <p>This study aimed to document the knowledge of rubella disease and vaccine hesitancy among secondary school adolescents.</p> Materials and Methods <p>This was a cross-sectional study carried out in six secondary schools in Enugu. A validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the study.</p> Results <p>A small number of adolescents (1.6%) were aware of the rubella vaccine, and 0.6% of them were vaccinated against the rubella disease. A notable proportion (84.4%) did not know whether rubella was present, 89.4% were unaware of any side effects or whether a vaccine was present, and 98.4% believed that Nigeria was not interested in rubella vaccination. Ten point two (10.2%) were willing to receive the rubella vaccine.</p> <p>Willingness varied notably by year of study, with JSS1 students showing the highest willingness (50%), followed by SS2 students (37.3%). Males were more likely than females to receive the vaccine, with an odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI, 0.9–3.3). Similarly, respondents with good knowledge of the vaccine were more likely to receive the vaccine (28.1%) than those with poor knowledge (20.4%) (<i>p</i> = 0.321; OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6–3.5).</p> Conclusion <p>A good number of secondary school adolescents had poor knowledge of rubella disease with the majority of them unwilling to receive the vaccine. This is a clarion call to add the teaching of rubella disease and prevention to the curriculum at all levels of secondary school. This significantly curbs the burden of the disease. A policy that should be in place that integrate Nigeria’s immunization agenda and the WHO rubella elimination targets. Furthermore, since information on rubella disease and its vaccine was mostly derived from friends, radio stations, and health workers, vigorous information dissemination through these channels and especially by health worker is strongly recommended.</p>

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Perception of Rubella Disease and Willingness to Vaccinate Against Rubella Vaccine among Secondary School Adolescents in Enugu, South East Nigeria

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月27日

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  • Awoere T. Chinawa,
  • Ikenna C. Nwokoye,
  • Jude T. Onyia,
  • Vivian O. Onukwuli,
  • Grace Agu,
  • Chidimma S. Nwike,
  • Josephat M. Chinawa

摘要

Background

There is an urgent need to disseminate information about rubella disease among secondary school-aged adolescents because of its heavy burden, especially among female adolescents.

Objective

This study aimed to document the knowledge of rubella disease and vaccine hesitancy among secondary school adolescents.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross-sectional study carried out in six secondary schools in Enugu. A validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the study.

Results

A small number of adolescents (1.6%) were aware of the rubella vaccine, and 0.6% of them were vaccinated against the rubella disease. A notable proportion (84.4%) did not know whether rubella was present, 89.4% were unaware of any side effects or whether a vaccine was present, and 98.4% believed that Nigeria was not interested in rubella vaccination. Ten point two (10.2%) were willing to receive the rubella vaccine.

Willingness varied notably by year of study, with JSS1 students showing the highest willingness (50%), followed by SS2 students (37.3%). Males were more likely than females to receive the vaccine, with an odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI, 0.9–3.3). Similarly, respondents with good knowledge of the vaccine were more likely to receive the vaccine (28.1%) than those with poor knowledge (20.4%) (p = 0.321; OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6–3.5).

Conclusion

A good number of secondary school adolescents had poor knowledge of rubella disease with the majority of them unwilling to receive the vaccine. This is a clarion call to add the teaching of rubella disease and prevention to the curriculum at all levels of secondary school. This significantly curbs the burden of the disease. A policy that should be in place that integrate Nigeria’s immunization agenda and the WHO rubella elimination targets. Furthermore, since information on rubella disease and its vaccine was mostly derived from friends, radio stations, and health workers, vigorous information dissemination through these channels and especially by health worker is strongly recommended.