Investigation on the awareness of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in Nigeria

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is transmitted through percutaneous or mucosal exposure to infective blood or body fluids. It is a major problem because it can cause chronic infection, resulting in cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and even death The main aim of the study was to investigate the Awareness of hepatitis B virus among health care workers at the Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Nigeria; to assess the attitude of health care workers' vaccination against HBV; and to assess the barrier to predictors for effective hepatitis B virus among health care workers. Two-hundred and fifteen copies of questionnaire were distributed and 161 copies were retrieved, which shown overall response rate of 74.9%. The data was analyzed using SPSS and cross-tabulation, percentage and chi-square utilized. The results revealed that health care workers have poor knowledge of hepatitis B virus; the use of protective material appeared to be influenced by the perceived risk of transmission and majority indicating that overall practices towards hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevention was good. Based on the finding, the study recommends that; there is a need to inform heath care workers (HCN) of the availability of an effecting, safe vaccine that prevent HBV. All health care facilities should have programs designed to minimize risk, including infection control programs; hepatitis B vaccine protocol should be available at each health care facility; and programs need to be implemented to identify HBV positive HCNs and transfer them for appropriate medical management for vaccination.