Prevalence of HBsAg, knowledge, and vaccination practice against viral hepatitis B infection among doctors and nurses in a secondary health care facility in Lagos state, South-western Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B Virus, a highly infectious blood-borne virus poses a major threat to public health globally due to its high prevalence rate and grave consequence in causing liver cirrhosis and hepatocelullar carcinoma, the third cause of cancer death worldwide. The aim is determine the prevalence of HBsAg, knowledge, and vaccination practices against viral hepatitis B infection among doctors and nurses in a health care facility.


METHODS
Study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study among all the doctors and nurses in the health care facility. Data was collected using pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and blood samples were taken from respondents and tested using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) test kit to determine prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen after informed consent. Ethical approval was obtained from Health Research and Ethics Committee of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Responses of the respondents to the knowledge and vaccination practices against viral hepatitis B infection were scored and graded as poor (<50%), fair (50-74%) and good (≥75%). The study was carried out in January, 2014.


RESULTS
A total of 134 out of the 143 recruited respondents participated in the study. Prevalence of HBsAg was 1.5%. Among the respondents, 56.7% had good knowledge and 94.8% reported poor practice of vaccination against viral hepatitis B infection. Mean knowledge and vaccination practices scores (%) were 72.54+7.60 and 29.44+14.37 respectively. Only 29% of the respondents did post vaccination testing for anti HBsAg.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of HBsAg was low. Knowledge of viral hepatitis B was fair, and practice of post hepatitis B vaccination testing was poor. It is therefore recommended that the state ministry of health should organise further health education programme, institute compulsory occupational hepatitis B vaccination programme and post vaccination anti-HBS testing to ensure adequate antibody level in this adult population.
Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abdul-Hakeem Olatunji
AH
Abiola
General Hospital Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Adebukola Bola
AB
Agunbiade
Department of Morbid Anatomy, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Kabir Bolarinwa
KB
Badmos
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Adenike Olufunmilayo
AO
Lesi
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abdulrazzaq Oluwagbemiga
AO
Lawal
Island Maternity Hospital Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Quadri Olatunji
QO
Alli
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D063728:Secondary Care Centers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
health; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis B vaccination