Hepatitis B infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitude among medical students

Santosh M. Biradar; V. S. Kamble; Shrinivas Reddy

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20150962

Authors

Santosh M. Biradar Department of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka
V. S. Kamble Department of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka
Shrinivas Reddy Department of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20150962

Keywords:

Attitude, Hepatitis B, Knowledge, Medical students, Vaccine

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B infection among health care professionals can be prevented by strategies like vaccination, increasing awareness and following universal precautions. The present study was conducted on newly admitted medical students to evaluate knowledge regarding HBV and to know their vaccination status. This occasion was also used to motivate students to take HBV vaccine if not taken earlier and to educate about universal precautions.

Methods:Cross sectional study was carried out on newly admitted 1st MBBS students. All the students present on the day of data collection were included in the study and interviewed using pretested questionnaire. Data was analysed using percentages.

Results: Most of the students had good knowledge about disease and modes of transmission & prevention. Surprisingly half of them were unaware of high risk of transmission to health professional. Nearly 40% of the students were unimmunized mainly due to lack of awareness and motivation.

Conclusions:It is recommended for Hepatitis B vaccination for all unimmunized students who enter medical profession. The orientation and sensitization programme should be held to create awareness regarding HBV infection.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Zuckerman AJ. More than third of world’s population has been infected with hepatitis B virus. British Medical Journal. 1999;318(7192):1213.

World Health Organization. Fighing disease. Fostering development, Executive Summary. The world health report 1996. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1996.

Lavanchy D. Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. 2004;11(2):97.

Sun Z, Ming L, Zhu X, Lu J. Prevention and control of hepatitis B in China. J Med Virol. 2002;67(3):447-50.

Alter MJ. Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B. Seminars in Liver Disease. 2003;23(1):39-46.

Sarin SK, Singal AK. Hepatitis B in India problems and prevention. CBS Publishers, New Delhi, 1996.

Director-General. WHO. Fighting disease Fostering development. Report of the The World Health Report 1996.

Kingsley LA, Rinaldo CR, Lyter DW, Valdiserri RO, Belle SH. Sexual transmission efficiency of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus among homosexual men. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 1990;264(2):230-4.

Beasley RP, Trepo C, Stevens CE, Szmuness W. The e antigen and vertical transmission of hepatitis B surface antigen. The American Journal of Epidemiology. 1977;105(2):94-8.

Kane A, Lloyd J, Zaffran M, Simonsen L, Kane M. Transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viruses through unsafe injections in the developing world: model-based regional estimates. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 1999;77(10):801-7.

Pruss-Ustun A, Rapiti E, Hutin Y. Estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to contaminated sharps injuries among health-care workers. The American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2005;48(6):482-90.

Gerberding JL. Incidence and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and cytomegalovirus among health care personnel at risk for blood exposure: final report from a longitudinal study. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1994;170(6):1410-7.

Centers for Disease Control. Hepatitis B virus: a comprehensive strategy for eliminating transmission in the United States through universal childhood vaccination. Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). MMWR. 1991;40:1-19.

Ibrahim N, Idris A. Hepatitis B Awareness among Medical Students and Their Vaccination Status at Syrian Private University. Hepatitis Research and Treatment, 2014. Article ID 131920, 7 pages.

Sharma R, Sharma CL, Khajuria R. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding HBV Infection of Married Women in the Reproductive Age Group living in Cantonment Area, Sunjawan, Jammu. JK Science. 2004;6(3).

Rathinavelu P, Pavithra R. Assessment of Knowledge on Occupational Exposure to Hepatitis B Infection and Vaccine among Undergraduate Students in a Private Dental College, Chennai. J Pharm Sci & Res. 2015;7(8):592-4.