Greetings everyone! I am Adane Demeke Moloro, and a public health research follower & Bright Research Network, Tsinghua University. Here I attach my research findings on HBV vaccination status among the risk group, especially healthcare workers.
The risk of Infection with HBV is greatly challenged worldwide, especially among risk groups. Health care workers are more prone to HBV exposure than the general population. Due to a lack of awareness and protective mechanisms, HealthCare Workers are exposed to HBV at the workplace. HBV infection is highest in the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of HBV infection in Africa is an average of more than 10%.
The transmission of HBV is via blood, body fluids, sex, unsterile needles, and mother to child. Risk of infection after a needle stick or cut exposure to HBV, HCV, and HIV infected blood is approximately 6-30%, 1.8%, and 0.3% respectively. This shows that HBV highest risk of infection compared to HIV, HCV, COVID-19, and EVD
A study conducted in Ethiopia among health professionals revealed a 9.7% prevalence of HBsAg. In Ethiopia, due to less attention, lack of awareness, unavailability of vaccination, and negligence of risk by healthcare providers, this leads to incomplete vaccination. The Purpose of this Study is to protect HCWs, to assess their HBV vaccine status, and to make policy recommendations
This Study is based on a cross-sectional survey at Saint Paul’s Hospital/Ethiopia. Sample size is determined by a single proportional formula, and study subjects are selected by a simple random probability sampling technique from a list of health care workers. Data collected by a standardized questionnaire and analyzed by statistical software EpiData (V.3.1) and SPSS (V.24). Basic statically tools like multinomial /binary logistic (P<0.05), frequency, mean, median, range, and SD were used for analysis and interpret the data collected from the respondent. This survey’s findings show that 85.8% of HCWs had received at least one dose of vaccines, and among these, 73.79% were fully vaccinated. The survey also shows that more than half (63.30%) of HCWs had received a full dosage of the HBV vaccine. More than 86% of the HCWs screened and knew their HBV status.
A significant proportion of the healthcare delivery employees (nearly 15%) had never received at least one dose of vaccine, and an even greater proportion of the staff (nearly 37%) had never been fully vaccinated. Workload (30.61%), unavailability of vaccine (3061%), absence of HWCs during vaccination (29.03%), and carelessness (34.69%) are the main reasons for a vaccination and incomplete course of vaccination. The findings of this study prove the necessity for the mandate of HBV testing and vaccination among the Health workforce as a matter of policy for the government to adopt and as a safety measure for the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, and Healthcare delivery institutions to implement.