Hepatitis B: Awareness, Risk Perception, Vaccination, and Challenges among Different Health-care Providers in a Medical College

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis is a group of distinct diseases caused by picornaviruses which leads to the inflammation of liver parenchyma. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted through mucosal or percutaneous contact with infected blood and other body fluids, particularly semen and vaginal fluid. It runs a chronic course and may lead to chronic liver diseases, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. With the increasing number of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, there is an increasing risk of infection to the auxiliary healthcare workers. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the level of awareness of hepatitis B infection, its risk factors, and vaccination among the auxiliary healthcare workers, nurses, and interns and to impart the knowledge of hepatitis B and promote the importance of preventive techniques to avoid the infection and its ill effects. Study Setting: This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, MIMER Medical College and Dr. BSTR Hospital, Talegaon Dabhade, Pune, Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 50 Class III and 130 Class IV workers, 150 nurses, and 100 interns working with our hospital. Participants were provided with a questionnaire of their category and responses were tabulated for data analysis. Results: It was observed that about 91.42% of nurses, 37.50% of healthcare workers, and all of the interns were aware of hepatitis B infection and its characteristics. More than 80% of them had completed the full course of vaccination against hepatitis B, except for Class III/IV workers. Adequate safety measures were followed by a major share of the nurses and interns. Many of them were aware of the correct biomedical waste management practices, except for a few workers. Conclusion: Hepatitis B viral infection is a silent deadly disease. There is much less awareness of this disease even among the people who are at a greater risk. Thus, there is a need to enhance the knowledge of safe occupational practices.