About
This study is an in-depth anthropological investigation of hepatitis B and vaccination in Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso and the Cascades region of Burkina Faso, and in Bangui, Central African Republic. There exist few published anthropological studies of hepatitis B or its vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa, where the illness is highly endemic. In investigating lay and biomedical understandings of and practices around hepatitis B and of routine vaccination, we have developed a diagnostic announcement guide and other materials for medical personnel responsible for making diagnostic announcements to patients. We have also made recommendations to vaccination and public health authorities to improve routine vaccination coverage according to the recommended vaccination calendar.
