title: Hepatitis B Immunisation in Health Care Workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important occupational risk in health care workers (HCW). In spite of HBV vaccine availability in Armed Forces, the high prevalence of HBV infection in HCW continues to be a problem. The study was undertaken to study the HBV vaccine-compliance among HCW.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. HCW were requested to fill up the pre set questionnaire to assess the HBV vaccination coverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst 254 HCW, only 57.7% were vaccinated against HBV. The vaccine compliance was lowest among housekeeping professionals. The mean age at vaccination was high (30.5 years). Amongst the vaccine non-compliant subjects, 34.3% were above 30 years of age. 32.2% HCW completed primary vaccination after spending more than 10 years in the profession. Accessibility of HBV vaccine, knowledge and perception of HBV risk were important factors in vaccine non-compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to low and delayed HBV vaccine-compliance, HCW continue to be at the risk of occupational HBV. Health education highlighting occupational risk of HBV, accessibility of vaccine and mandatory vaccination of HCW is recommended to increase HBV vaccine compliance among HCW.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Microbiology), INHS Jeevanti, Vasco-Da-Gama-403802.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Medicine & Gastroenterology), Command Hospital Central Command, Lucknow.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bhagat
authors.affiliation: Ex-Post Graduate Student (Pathology), INHS Asvini, Colaba Mumbai.-400005.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashturkar
authors.affiliation: Commanding Officer, INHS Kalyani Visakhapatnam.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Misra
keywords: Health care workers; Hepatitis B vaccine; Hepatitis B virus; Occupational risk