KNOWLEDGE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEPATITIS B VACCINATION AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH INDIA.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus and is a major global health burden affecting 10% of the world population. Health care professionals are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B infection due to occupational exposure and its prevalence is 2 to 4 fold higher than that of the general population. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge about Hepatitis B virus and attitude towards vaccination among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: An institutional cross-sectional prospective study was done in SMHS hospital Srinagar. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questionnaire contained information about the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge toward transmission and prevention methods of hepatitis B. The information was collected from 200 health care workers including medical and paramedical staff of the hospital. Results: This cross-sectional study was conducted in SMHS hospital over a period of 2 months .200 health care workers were taken for the study. Knowledge regarding disease and transmission was fairly good. The majority of the study participants 93.4% of doctors and 68% of paramedics believe that their job puts them at risk of HBV infection. Regarding vaccination status, 66% of medical and 33% of paramedical staff were vaccinated, the most common reason for noncompliance being ignorance of the importance of vaccination. Conclusion: Health care workers continue to be at risk of occupational HBV infection. Regular health education highlighting the occupational risk of HBV, accessibility of vaccine and mandatory vaccination of health care workers is recommended to prevent Hepatitis B infection.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Health care workers, Transmission, Vaccination.