ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis B, a vaccine preventable infection is one of the important causes of morbidity in India. The risk of acquiring the infection is more among the health care providers like nurses than in general population as they come in close contact with patients. The study has been done to know the sociodemographic profile, vaccination status along with the knowledge about the disease and the factors determining the acceptance of vaccination among nursing staff of KPC Medical College in West Bengal.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the 284 nursing staff of KPC Medical College and Hospital in November to December, 2018 with the help of pre-designed and semi-structured questionnaire. Data on demographic characteristics, knowledge, occupational exposure, vaccination status and factors for acceptance of vaccine etc. were collected and analysed.Results: 86% nursing staff received vaccination out of which 71% were completely vaccinated, 29% were partially and 14% were non vaccinated. The acceptable knowledge was found in 84% of the nurses. The major reason of vaccination was to protect themselves from infection and the major reason for non-acceptance was time limitation, cost issues etc. Accidental prick was found in 5% of the nurses and universal precautionary measure was taken by 98% of the nurses.Conclusions: In spite of availability of safe, effective and cheap vaccine against hepatitis B infection, 29% of nursing staff were partially vaccinated and 14% were non-vaccinated. There should be a mandatory vaccination at the beginning of their training and frequent educational and awareness programme for them on hepatitis B.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria spread by droplet infection.According to global TB report 2017, there were approximately 28 lakhs cases of TB in India accounting a quarter of the world TB cases. Today, it is the fastest-expanding and the largest program in the world in terms of patients initiated on treatment and the second largest in terms of population coverage. The objective of this study is to assess the socio-demographic profile of the patients attending revised national TB control programme (RNTCP) clinic, to determine the nature of disease, its co-morbidities, seasonal variability and treatment profile of the patients attending the RNTCP clinic during this study period.Methods: This was a retrospective record-based study conducted in RNTCP clinic of KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Details of all the 684 patients who were enrolled under RNTCP from the year 2014 to 2018 were collected from RNTCP records. Data was analyzed using suitable software.Results: 684 cases were registered and treated under directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) during the study period with 41% completing treatment. 84.3% were new TB cases. 23.61% were sputum smear positive. Males (67.25%) contributed to more in cases. Maximum patients visited during March to June. 74.87% of the total patients were diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Pleural effusion was the commonest form of extrapulmonary TB (42.75%).Conclusions: The number of TB cases showed a decreasing trend over the years. Males contributed to a greater number of cases with majority being contributed by the age group 21-30 years.