HBV seroprevalence after 25 years of universal mass vaccination and management of non-responders to the anti-Hepatitis B vaccine: An Italian study among medical students

Background: Aim of the study were to assess the impact of education on knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccine among medical students and to educate the students regarding Hepatitis B vaccination.Methods: Non-randomized before and after comparison study was conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV), assigning structured questionnaire of 26 different statements concerning knowledge, attitude and practice by pre and post educational intervention on Hepatitis B and its vaccination.Results: The study was conducted among 100 second year medical students. The response rate was 100%. There was statistically significant improvement in knowledge from pre-test mean scores for modes of transmission (87.4+4.70 vs 95.8+1.61; p=0.0001), preventive measures (92+0.47 vs 98+0.94; p=0.001) and Hepatitis B vaccine (71+4.72 to 84.7+6.65; p=0.0001) to post-test. While the increase in mean scores from pre-test for attitude (68.6+9.21 vs 77.43+11.1) and practice (55+25.41 vs 65.6+32.6) were statistically significant in post-test (p=0.0001; p=0.001 respectively).Conclusions: Structured educational intervention among medical students about Hepatitis B vaccination showed improved knowledge and behaviour and also increased the percentage of students willing to get screened and their participation in health education programmes related to Hepatitis B. However, there is slight lack of knowledge regarding the transmission of Hepatitis B and its vaccination schedule. In this regard, implementation and evaluation of educational intervention is needed as a preventative measure.

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ANTI HBS TITRE;

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2017.24.08.1008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (08) ◽

pp. 1167-1169

Author(s):

Nahdia Ashraf ◽

Muhammad Usman Hussain ◽

Iqra Qamar ◽

Muhammad Ashraf

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccine ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Poor Responders ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College ◽

B Virus

Introduction: The doctors and paramedical staff are at high risk of developingHepatitis B, infection. Hepatitis B vaccine is mandatory for medical students prior to admissionin medical colleges. After completion of vaccination determination of anti HBS is not in practice.All over the world some people remain non responders and don’t develop adequate antibodytitre essential for protection against hepatitis B virus. This study is therefore designed to estimatethe anti HBs titre among the medical students, who have completed three doses of hepatitisB vaccine. Objectives: To determine the serum anti HBs antibodies among the outgoing finalyear MBBS students who have received complete 03 doses of hepatitis B vaccine. StudyDesign: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration: This study was conductedfrom November 2010 to December 2015 at Biochemistry department Punjab Medical College incollaboration with Nawaz Medicare Hospital Faisalabad. Material and Methods: Two hundredand fifty nine female medical (MBBS) students from outgoing classes during the period ofNovember 2010 to December 2015 were enrolled in this study. All subjects were at the ageof 22-24 years at the time of sampling. Each received 03 doses of injection Engerix B, 10mcg/0.5ml each in a schedule of 0, 01, 06 months since the last 05 years. The blood sampleswere allowed to clot and serum was separated. The anti HBs and HBsAg were determined by3rd generation ELISA method. Results: A total 259 female medical students from outgoing finalyear MBBS classes were enrolled in this study. Among these subjects 48 (18.5%) had serumanti HBs levels < 10 IU/L, 77 subjects (29.7%) have levels 10-20 IU/L, 116 subjects (44.8 %)have serum levels 21-100 IU/L, while 18 subjects (10%) have > 100 IU/L serum anti HBs levels.Conclusion: The incidence of non responders and poor responders is higher among thevaccinees in this study as compared to foreign studies after five years of Hepatitis B vaccination.

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