Perception of Rubella and readiness to accept the vaccine among medical students in Enugu and Ebonyi States, Nigeria

Abstract

Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) affect children with several complications and high mortality. This sis to document the knowledge of rubella disease and readiness to receive Rubella vaccine among clinical medical students. This study was carried out in three medical schools in Enugu and Abakaliki metropolis from May 2025 to June 2025. Two hundred and forty-one clinical medical students from three medical schools in Southeast Nigeria were enlisted in the study using a two-stage random sampling. The study was done with the use of interviewer-administered questionnaire. A minority of the respondents 16 (6.5%) have heard of rubella disease while a small proportion of respondents 32 (13%) knew of Rubella disease. Only 34 (13.8%) of respondents are ready to receive rubella vaccination. The proportion of respondents with good knowledge was highest among those aged 19–29 years 32(13.4%). Seventy-one (42.8%) of males indicated readiness to be vaccinated, a figure slightly higher than 32 (40.0%) of females that also showed readiness to be vaccinated. The association was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.17, p = 0.680), and the odds ratio of 1.1 (95% CI: 0.6–1.9) was noted. A good number of clinical medical students had poor knowledge of Rubella disease. A small number of them were ready to receive the vaccine especially the female folk. This study will inform the urgent need for curriculum changes and the WHO-recommended RCV introduction in Nigeria. A multi-faceted and well organized policy for rubella vaccination especially among the female folk is prime. This will include the involvement of global health initiatives, collaboration between the state and federal government aimed to eliminate the disease through global immunization. Not applicable.