Investigation of Serological Markers for Hepatitis B Virus and Knowledge about Hepatitis B Infection in Hospital Staff

Health care workers are in the high risk group for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge levels about HBV infection and HBV sero-prevalance of the hospital staff in the Government Hospital. Totally 554 workers (377 health care workers, 177 assistant workers for cleaning) filled a questionnaire (including risk factors, methods of prevention, ways of prevention, etc..) and their blood samples were screened for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc IgG. The screening results were as follows: HBsAg positive cases 2.2%, anti-HBs positive cases 23.8%, the naturally immunized cases 20.2%, sensitive cases for HBV 53.8% and only anti-HBc positive cases 1.9%. In the questionnaire, 164 (29.6%) did not fill or answered as "I don't know" the question "Can you define hepatitis B?", while 390 (70.4%) answered as "hepatitis is elevation of bilirubin levels in blood, jaundice and a kind of liver disease". The names of hepatitis viruses were asked, 164 (29.6%) had no idea and 390 (70.4%) answered as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C. Totally 440 (79.4%) knew that hepatitis is a contagious disease and were aware of the risk of their jobs. The question "What do you do for prevention from HBV?" was answered as nothing by 212 (38.3%), while 98 (17.7%) used gloves and mask, 112 (20.2%) were naturally immunized and 132 (23.8%) were vaccinated before. As the result, health care workers have risk of contamination with HBV and their knowledge about the infection is not enough. Routine serological screening and vaccination in the hospital staff should be performed as a significant prevention method.