title: Attitudes and educational practices of obstetric providers regarding infant hepatitis B vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of obstetric providers regarding the education of pregnant women about infant hepatitis B vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to 264 physicians providing obstetric services in San Francisco. Of these, 113 were confirmed to be providing prenatal care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six obstetric providers returned completed questionnaires. Among eligible respondents, 79% believed that hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to all infants at birth, and 92% believed that it is feasible to educate all expectant mothers about infant hepatitis B vaccination. However, only 53% of respondents provided such education to all their pregnant patients. Only 23% provided education about other routine childhood immunizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstetric providers in San Francisco are willing to educate pregnant patients about hepatitis B vaccination but are not always doing so. Providing education in a consistent manner may improve infant hepatitis B vaccination rates and may increase coverage with other childhood vaccines.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Department of Public Health, California, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zola
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woodruff
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009774:Obstetrics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines