Abstract
Background
Hepatitis B is a major public health concern. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to thrive in developing countries including Nigeria. Occupationally exposed persons like people working in women's beauty salon are at high risk of HBV infection and may play a critical role in the disease transmission via contaminated needles and sharps. The aim of this study therefore was to estimate HBV infection, knowledge level, occupational risk perception and vaccine uptake among people working in women's beauty salons. Also to get them screened and encourage those that are negative to get vaccinated to curb the spread of this infection.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 199 people working in women's beauty salons in Ikorodu Local government area of Lagos State. HBsAg screening using a rapid diagnostic test kit was carried out for all respondents to determine their infection status. Questionnaire which assessed their knowledge level and occupational risk perception were completed by trained interviewers and data was analysed using SPSS software.
Results
The result of this study showed that only 2.01% respondents tested positive for the HBsAg screening. Majority of the respondents (69.3%) have poor knowledge about HBV transmission, prevention and vaccine. While most (78.9%) of the respondents don't know their occupational risk of exposure to HBV, 9.0% rated themselves at high risk of occupational exposure. Significant association was observed between level of knowledge and risk perception (P < 0.001). The level of vaccine uptake was very poor as only 1 out of 199 respondents has taken 3 doses of HBV vaccine, 60.9%(120) have not been vaccinated.
Conclusions
The respondents exhibited poor level of knowledge about HBV transmission, prevention, vaccination and went about their occupation without adequate protection form HBV.
Key messages
Screening of people working in women beauty salon is highly imperative to identify those with infection so that they can be treated on time while those that are negative should be vaccinated. Due to the potential roles of people working in women’s beauty salon in HBV transmission, education programs and vaccine coverage policy should be adopted for people in this occupation.
Mass Customization and the Level of Customers' Needs for Beauty Salon