Objectives: To assess awareness of high risk health care workers about being at risk for contracting hepatitis B and importance of vaccination for them and to determine frequency of effectively vaccinated (against hepatitis B) amongst them.
Study design and setting: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital, Kharian cantonment from August 2009 to July 2010.
Subjects and Methods: Two hundred high-risk health care workers were selected by convenience sampling over one year. These included doctors (residents and house officers), nurses, nursing staff and sanitary workers working in high pathogen exposure areas. Anti-HBs titers were checked to see the effectiveness of vaccination. A questionnaire was designed to record frequency of vaccination, immunity status and their awareness of high risk and protective role of hepatitis B vaccination.
Results: Of the 200 high-risk health care workers, 125 (62.5%) were aware of being at high risk for acquiring HBV infection and protective role of vaccine against it. One hundred and six (53%) persons were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Among vaccinated 87 (43.5%) had protective levels of Anti-HBs titers while 19 (9.5%) had undetectable titers. Nineteen (9.5%) remained unvaccinated despite being aware.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of high-risk health care workers lack awareness, vaccination, or immunization against hepatitis B.
Key words: Hepatitis-B virus, vaccination, healthcare providers
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