Factors associated with self-reported non-completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series in men who have sex with men in Brazil

Infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a major health problem. Its estimated prevalence is two billion people worldwide, with associated subclinical and clinical manifestations. Among those who are infected, around 240 million are chronically infected and have a higher risk of incurring serious hepatitis-related complications, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [1].

The hepatitis B virus is transmitted in two ways: vertically (mother-child transmission) and horizontally, through exposure to contaminated blood or other body fluids, especially through unprotected sexual relations, which is the most common form of exposure [2]. Among the population groups considered highly vulnerable to HBV, men who have sex with men (MSM) stand out for their high prevalence of hepatitis B (15.4%), according to a population survey conducted with this group in Brazil [3].

The vulnerability of MSM to the virus is associated with a higher frequency of several factors, such as engaging in unprotected anal sex, multiple partners, a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), stigma, violence, and difficulty accessing health services [3, 4].

In Brazil, the primary method for prevention is vaccination, which has been provided since the end of the 1990s for children and higher-vulnerability groups. At present, it is universal, through a vaccination series based on three doses. All the vaccination programs focus on the administration of the complete series of doses. However, protective antibody levels are developed after one dose of the vaccine in 30 to 50% of those who are vaccinated, and in 75% after two doses [5, 6].

Although free protection against the virus is ensured at the primary health level, difficulties accessing health services may contribute to low or even incomplete vaccination coverage, especially among vulnerable populations [7]. Based on this scenario, and also in view of the scarcity of Brazilian studies that address HBV immunization in the MSM population, the aim of the present study was to analyze the factors associated with non-completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series among men who have sex with men and use geosocial dating apps in Brazil.

This study is part of a multicenter study entitled “Behaviors, practices, and vulnerabilities among men who have sex with men and use geolocation (geosocial) dating apps in Brazil.” It encompassed all of Brazil’s regions and sought to examine the behaviors and practices of men who have sex with men and use geosocial dating apps, and their vulnerability to HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.

This was a cross-sectional, epidemiological, survey-based, analytical study, since it involved a large contingent of MSM from various states in Brazil, which enabled obtaining primary information on the health status of this group. The study was conducted among MSM who use geosocial dating apps for sexual encounters. The data was collected exclusively online, which promoted the participation of MSM from cities of different sizes and those further away from large urban centers, unlike large epidemiological studies that have previously been carried out with MSM in Brazil, but which have focused on large urban centers and state capitals [8].

Among the participants (n = 1855), 4.7% reported having received one dose, 12.5% two doses and 19.4% three doses, thus, 36,6% of participants report some type of protection. Another 17.6% reported not having been vaccinated (zero doses), and 45.8% did not know how many doses they had received, as shown in Table 1.

The average age of the participants was 25.7 years old, with a standard deviation of 7.8 years. The majority had completed their higher education (57.8%); did not practice any religion (63.9%); lived with their parents (55.5%); were single (75.2%); and engaged in casual sexual relationships (49.3%). Majority of the participants lived in the southeast region of Brazil (50.3%) (Table 1).

Table 2 presents the bivariate analysis of the factors associated with completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series among the study participants. In this analysis, association with the study outcome was statistically significant for the following factors: education (p < 0.001); Brazilian region of residence (p = 0.023); sexual orientation (p < 0.001); marital status (p = 0.011); presence of STDs (p = 0.003); HIV status (p < 0.001); use of alcohol during sex (p = 0.003); and frequency of use of health services (p < 0.001).

Multivariate analysis (Table 3) indicated that the odds of non-completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series were high among those with less than university level education: those with secondary education (OR = 3.8; CI 95% = 2.6–5.7), or less (OR = 3.2; CI 95% = 1.4–7.4), had the worst outcomes. In relation to HIV serological status, being HIV negative (OR = 2.3; CI 95% = 1.6–3.3) and not knowing one’s status (OR = 3.7; CI 95% = 2.3–5.8) increased the likelihood of an incomplete vaccine series. In terms of access to health information and services, not seeking information from health professionals increased the probability of an incomplete vaccine series (OR = 1.5: CI 95% = 1.1–1.9), while searching for another source of information other than the internet proved to be a protection factor for the occurrence of an incomplete vaccine series (OR = 0.4; CI 95% = 0.3–0.6). Another result worth noting was related to seeking health services; the lower the frequency, the higher the odds of an incomplete vaccine series; the worst scenario was those who rarely seek health services (OR = 2.38; CI 95% = 1.53–3.72). Sexual identity was retained in the model, even though it had no statistical significance, since it improved adjustment quality in the presence of other factors, and also indicated higher protection in the bisexual category (OR = 0.6; CI 95% = 0.4–1.0) (Table 3).

Self-reported completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series was low among MSM who participated in the study (19.4%), compared to the number of third doses accumulated in the Brazilian adult population, which was 49.3% according to recent official data [12]. These low rates are cause for concern because they occurred in a population with higher exposure to risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection [12]. Thus, this situation seems to worsen in the case of vulnerable populations, such as MSM. The findings of our study indicated that most were not fully vaccinated, were unable to prove vaccination or were unaware of their vaccination status. These percentages were also lower than the vaccination rates reported in other studies conducted exclusively with MSM, which varied between 50.7% [13] and 77.4% [14], even with self-reporting [13] as the data collection method.

However, our results should be interpreted considering the Brazilian context that, unlike other countries, offers the hepatitis B vaccine free of charges to children and adolescents since the beginning of the 2000s [15]. Thus, part of our sample, aged between 18 and 19 years, may have been vaccinated (or started the vaccination scheme) by their parents and do not have this information.

The introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine in the Brazilian context has been considered decisive in reducing HBV infection rates, even in the presence of risky sexual behaviors [16], although its universal implementation is recent. Nevertheless, the task of discussing growth or reduction in hepatitis B vaccine coverage is still difficult in the Brazilian context, since there are no studies that define the country’s situation in relation to infection and/or vaccination status among MSM.

A number of intrinsic factors may be associated with increased vulnerability of MSM to hepatitis B virus infection, such as sociocultural characteristics and sexual behavior, as well as external factors related to difficulty accessing health services, denial of basic LGBT health rights and institutionalized homophobia [17].

As an example, low proportions of hepatitis B vaccination were reported by younger MSM, even though this population has more access to information than the adult population [18]. In contrast, those who were over 40 had a higher proportion of hepatitis B vaccination, a finding also noted in other studies involving MSM [3, 18, 19].

The predominance of individuals with higher education levels and a higher rate of complete vaccine series (57.8%) corroborates the higher odds of non-completion in participants with only secondary or elementary education. This would indicate that level of education is related to the search for protection and has a direct impact on the percentage of new cases of hepatitis B [3].

HIV-seropositive individuals and those with a history of other STDs presented a higher vaccination percentage (16.2 and 15.1%, respectively), a result complemented by multivariate analysis, which demonstrated that individuals who were unaware of their HIV status were four times more likely to present an incomplete vaccine series. This finding was also reported by other studies that have investigated this population [20, 21].

The association between completion of the vaccine series and a previous STD diagnosis suggests that in the presence of infection, MSM seek to be vaccinated, since during their visit to a specialized health service, screening refers them for further testing and vaccination [20].

The participants who reported going to health units more frequently had a better vaccination history, compared to those who went occasionally (or rarely), which increases the odds of an incomplete vaccine series. This finding demonstrates the importance of health units being prepared to receive LGBT individuals, particularly at the primary care level, since it is the main gateway to the Unified Health System [22]. This result is further supported by evidence that not seeking information from health professionals increases the odds of non-completion of the vaccine series. This reinforces the argument that a structure that drives away the LGBT community worsens their access to the health system and, consequently, vaccination coverage [23].

Because of the growth of STDs among vulnerable populations [24], initiatives and interventions must be reformulated to reduce these populations’ exposure to these infections. As this population does not usually attend health services, tailored strategies implemented in places frequented by MSM could significantly improve vaccination rates. The use of technologies, especially geosocial apps, could serve as a channel to access the MSM population and disseminate information and health services for their use [25, 26].

Our study shows that the factors associated with completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series included social, individual, and programmatic (healthcare) vulnerabilities [27]. Thus, our study provides unprecedented results among MSM, more specifically among users of geosocial dating apps, in relation to vaccination status.

The findings of this study are subject to limitations. The main limitation of this study stands on the fact that it was based on self-reported information by the participants. This information is subject to memory bias, in the absence of vaccination records for verification. To mitigate this limitation, the participants were instructed to consult their vaccination records.

Additionally, the three-dose schedule of the anti-hepatitis B vaccine over a period of months may make it more difficult to remember than other single dose vaccines [28].

Last, it is not possible to generalize these findings to the entire Brazilian MSM population, since the interviewees represented a sample of individuals who used a specific technology for finding sexual partners.

Completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series was low among men who have sex with men and use geosocial dating apps in Brazil. The factors associated with non-completion were level of education, identification as bisexual, HIV serological status, use of the Internet and health professionals as sources of health information, and frequency of use of health services.

The MSM population is classified as vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, since they are more exposed to these infections, including HBV infection. This underscores the need for studies at the national level that address this problem and are able to help provide a clearer overview of the health status (physical and mental) of this population. It is recommended that future studies focus on the use of mobile apps as an environment for campaigns, carrying out interventions through the application itself.