Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers toward Hepatitis B virus infection, Sudan

Int J Risk Saf Med. 2012;24(2):95-102. doi: 10.3233/JRS-2012-0558.

Abstract

Objective: This study was set out to assess health care providers' knowledge, attitude and practice towards hepatitis B virus infection (HBV).

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out, in four public hospitals in Wad Medani, Sudan. Anonymous pre-tested questionnaire was completed by 295 different health care providers. The response rate was 100%.

Results: The study revealed that, 97.2% of doctors, 98.6% of nurses, 94.8% of laboratory technicians and 95.7% of other paramedical knew that HBV transmitted via blood. For hygienic precautionary measure; the current study disclosed that (81%) of the responding providers were routinely used to recap needles after use and only (33%) of doctors were always wearing gloves. Gloves were not readily available in all units where there is a high risk of infectious occupational exposure. More than 50% (p < 0.001) of health care workers were not vaccinated against HBV. Healthcare workers had poor knowledge about Universal Standard Precautions Guidelines, and do not fully appreciate their occupational risk regarding hepatitis B infection. Set of recommendations was proposed for formulation and implementation of standard precautions guidelines.

MeSH terms

  • Body Fluids / virology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Personnel / standards
  • Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control*
  • Hepatitis B / transmission
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Needlestick Injuries / complications
  • Needlestick Injuries / epidemiology
  • Needlestick Injuries / prevention & control
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control*
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / standards
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sudan / epidemiology
  • Universal Precautions / methods*

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Vaccines