title: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of construction workers towards tetanus vaccine in Northern Italy.
abstract: Construction workers (CWs) are both more exposed to tetanus and at higher risk to be inadequately immunized. Our aim was to evaluate tetanus immunization status and knowledge/attitudes towards tetanus vaccination in CWs in Italy. In this field report, the immunization status of 554 unskilled CWs (i.e. labourers). Immunization status was assessed recalling immunization booklets/certificates. Attitudes and knowledge were collected through a standardized questionnaire. In 240/554 CWs, immunization status was inadequate/not documented: in 184 subjects (33.2%), the last vaccination shot was older than 10 years, whereas basal immunization was incomplete in 20 cases, more frequently in foreign-born people (FBP) than in Italian born (IBP) (OR=7.116). In 198 cases (35.7%), an Occupational Physician (OPh) performed last booster, usually with monovalent (T, n=173) vaccine. The main reason for inadequate immunization was having forgotten the periodic booster (148/554; 26.7%), whereas 42 subjects (7.6%) deliberately avoided tetanus vaccine because of personal/religious beliefs, more frequently in FBP than in IBP (OR=3.182). In summary, the prevalence of inadequate immunization status was relatively high (43.4%): the high prevalence of "forgotten boosters" enlightens the key role of OPh in recalling and promoting vaccination policies. Moreover, the inappropriate use of Td vaccine points out the opportunity for educational campaigns in OPh.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari della Provincia Autonoma di Trento Unità Operativa di Prevenzione e Sicurezza degli Ambienti di Lavoro, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riccò
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cattani
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veronesi
authors.forename: Maria Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Colucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D060389:Construction Industry; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid