SynthesisPloS one2025
Low Hepatitis B vaccination rates among medical students in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Low Hepatitis B vaccination rates among medical students in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Article
- Vaccination Coverage and Awareness on Hepatitis B Virus Among High School, College, and University Students of Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsCurrent and future healthcare professionals, such as medical students, are at risk of contracting Hepatitis B virus infection. Vaccination against Hepatitis B is an effective means of prevention. However, studies have reported variable vaccination rates among medical students from different regions of South Asia. Understanding vaccination rates and barriers can guide effective interventions to protect future doctors. Therefore, we aimed to find out the vaccination rate among medical students in South Asia.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and other sources) beginning from inception to July 15, 2024. Observational studies reporting vaccination rates among Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) students in South Asia were included. Two reviewers independently screened and performed the quality assessment. Pooled vaccination rates were calculated and visualized using a random-effects model in R Studio (Version 2023.12.0). Subgroup analysis was performed based on country and year of publication of the studies.
resultsFifty studies from the South Asian region, including 12,231 participants, were included in the quantitative analysis. The overall pooled Hepatitis B vaccination rate using the random-effects model was 56% (CI: 49-63%), with significant heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 98%; P = 0). Subgroup analysis based on country revealed a significant regional variation in vaccination rate (59% in Pakistan, 57% in India, 55% in Nepal, and 41% in Bangladesh; P < 0.01). Lack of awareness, perceived low risk or necessity, concerns about side effects, logistical challenges, and lack of motivation have been reported as barriers to vaccination.
conclusionThe overall vaccination rate was relatively low in South Asia, with significant regional variation. Based on the reported barriers, we recommend that relevant authorities focus on vaccination awareness, motivation, cost-effectiveness, logistics management, policy formulation, and monitoring.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.