Awareness and Practice of Pre-travel Vaccination among International Travelers Departing from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Introduction: International travelers are exposed to health risks and may transmit infections before, during, or after travel. Travelers are expected to take vaccinations prior to travel. The current study assessed the factors associated with the practice of pre-travel vaccination among travelers departing through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport after their stay in Ethiopia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among ۶۷۰ international travelers. A multistage sampling technique was used to ensure the representativeness of travel destinations. Awareness and practice of pre-travel vaccination were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire distributed at the departure lounges of the airport. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant factors (at P < ۰.۰۵) associated with pre-travel vaccination status. Median age was reported with its interquartile range (IQR). Results: A total of ۶۳۹ questionnaires were analyzed given a response rate of ۹۵.۴%. The median age of participants was ۳۴ years (IQR ۲۸-۴۱). Five hundred and eighty travelers (۹۰.۸%) were aware of pre-travel vaccinations, ۵۳۱ (۸۳.۱%) took vaccinations, and ۱۸۵ (۲۹.۰%) had their vaccination cards checked upon arrival in Ethiopia. The vaccination rate of the three recommended vaccines for all travelers were yellow fever (۷۲.۵%); diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) (۲۱.۴%); and influenza (۱۰.۸%). Age, marital status, religion, and having vaccination cards checked on previous trips were associated with vaccination status at P values of ۰.۰۴۷, ۰.۰۳۵, <۰.۰۰۱, and ۰.۰۰۲, respectively. Conclusion: The uptake of recommended vaccinations for all travelers, especially DPT and influenza was low. It is pertinent for border health staff to scale up vaccination card inspection at points of entry.

Keywords:

Airports , Border Health , International Travelers , Pre-travel , Vaccination , Yellow Fever