title: Hepatitis B vaccination of healthcare workers at the Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Batswana (i.e., the people of Botswana) healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), thus the Botswana Ministry of Health recommends that HCWs should receive three doses of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine. However, there are no data on HB vaccination uptake by Batswana HCWs. This study investigated knowledge of, and attitudes towards, HB prevention and control, and predictors of HB vaccination uptake in HCWs at the Princess Marina Hospital during 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to doctors, nurses and laboratory workers (n=200). Knowledge was measured using 14 questions; attitude was measured using a 5-point Likert scale and 9 statements. Data on vaccination status and demographics were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the respondents, 17.2% (20/116) had good knowledge and 97.4% (113/116) had positive attitudes. At least one dose of HB vaccine had been received by 50.9% (59/116), while 31.0% (36/116) had received all three doses. Profession was the only predictor of HB vaccination uptake, with being a laboratory worker (OR=61.0) or a doctor (OR=51.5) predicting HB vaccination uptake with at least one dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study on HB vaccination of Batswana HCWs, and shows that HB vaccination uptake is suboptimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tichaona
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machiya
authors.affiliation: HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, PO Box 173, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa Rose.Burnett@ul.ac.za.
authors.forename: Rosemary J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: François
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Antoon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Schryver
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Sprundel
authors.affiliation: HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, PO Box 173, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa.
authors.forename: M Jeffrey
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mphahlele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001902:Botswana; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Botswana; Healthcare workers; Hepatitis B virus; Princess Marina Hospital; Vaccination