Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice about Hepatitis B among medical students in an urban area of Kanchipuram: A cross sectional study

Background: Hepatitis B is a global public health problem that causes chronic liver disease and death due to Cirrhosis of liver and Hepatocellular carcinoma. Prevalence of Hepatitis B is increasing in developing countries and there is a paucity of information among medical students regarding its transmission and vaccination. Scientific knowledge regarding the same is necessary for medical students for taking protective measures as Hepatitis B is highly communicable. Aim and objectives: To evaluate Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among medical students towards HBV and correlate the level of awareness with the attitude they behold towards the disease, its transmission and prevention and to determine the vaccination status for Hepatitis B among medical students. Materials and methods: Cross sectional study where a total of 200 subjects including House surgeons were interviewed using a validated structured questionnaire Results: A total of 145 (72.5%) students were completely vaccinated with HBV vaccine. Among these, preclinical students were 76 (38 %) and clinical 69 (34.5%) in number. Around 96(48%) students felt they would not get Hepatitis B infection while 26(13%) thought Hepatitis B is selfcurable by the body. Students having good knowledge regarding HBV were 86 (43%), good attitude towards HBV were 125 (62.5%) and 145 (72.5%) followed good practice for HBV prevention. Abhinav Agarwal, J.E. Jeffin Shanu, Shankar K. Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice about Hepatitis B among medical students in an urban area of Kanchipuram: A cross sectional study. IAIM, 2018; 5(4): 17-22. Page 18 Conclusion: This study showed fairly moderate outcomes with important gaps. Lack of vaccination of all the students makes them vulnerable to liver disease. It is mandatory that they be fully vaccinated prior to their entry into professional practice. In spite of having good knowledge, their practice for prevention was not satisfactory

Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B among HIV-infected patients in South Brazil

Evidence-based strategies to improve the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination coverage rates might help to reduce the burden caused by co-infection with HBV and human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). In this study, the aim was to evaluate the vaccination coverage and immunity against HBV among HIV-infected individuals in South Brazil, and identify factors that are associated with compliance patterns and antibody reactivity. Three hundred HIV-infected men and women were included in this survey. The patients answered a standardized questionnaire, and vaccination cards were checked in order to assess hepatitis B vaccine status. A blood sample was collected for quantitative determination of antibody to hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs). Participants were also evaluated for their CD4 cell count and HIV viral load. The overall vaccination coverage of HBV vaccination found in this study (57.4%) was lower than that was previously reported in South Brazil. Anti-HBs levels >10 IU/L were observed in 47.0% of the studied population. A significant inequality in the coverage rates and antibody reactivity was found in favor of patients with better economic status. In conclusion, the results indicate the need for improvement in the HBV vaccination coverage among HIV carriers, in particular focusing on low-income individuals.

Factors influencing on the seroconversion of anti-HBs in the subjects with isolated anti-HBc

BACKGROUND: Korea is an endemic area of viral hepatitis B. In spite of the HBV vaccination program since 1983, the prevalence of HBV antigen had remained high, which was 3.9% in male, 2.7% in female in 1994. But there is no approved management guideline on isolated anti-HBc and the meaning of which is not clear except the evidence of past infection. Therefore, we tried to investigate the factors which influence the seroconversion of anti-HBs during follow-up period. METHODS: Medical records of 239 subject with isolated anti-HBc, who visited a health promotion center from 1995 to 1997 and who were retested at least once during the 1-3 years' follow-up period, were analyzed. RESULTS: The seroconversion rate of anti-HBs was 45.61%(109/239) on the follow-up test. The number of newly vaccinated or non-newly vaccinated subjects during the follow-up period was 156 and 72, respectively. The seroconversion rate of anti-HBs of each group were 57.69%(90/156) and 22.22% (16/72) respectively(p<0.01). The subjects without previous history of HBV vaccination was 103. Among them the seroconversion rate of anti-HBs of the newly vaccinated or the non newly vaccinated group were 59.70%(40/67) and 22.22% (8/36), respectively(p<0.01). Sex, age, BMI, smoking, previous history of HBV vaccination did not influence significantly on the seroconversion rate of anti-HBs among the subjects with isolated anti-HBc. CONCLUSIONS: The seroconversion rate in people with isolated anti-HBc was significantly higher in the newly vaccinated than the non-newly vaccinated regardless of the previous history of HBV vaccination in this study. In spite of the non-differentiation of an-amnestic response from primary antibody response, we can expect to benefit from HBV vaccination in those with isolated anti-HBc.59.70%(40/67) and 22.22% (8/36), respectively(p<0.01). Sex, age, BMI, smoking, previous history of HBV vaccination did not influence significantly on the seroconversion rate of anti-HBs among the subjects with isolated anti-HBc. CONCLUSIONS: The seroconversion rate in people with isolated anti-HBc was significantly higher in the newly vaccinated than the non-newly vaccinated regardless of the previous history of HBV vaccination in this study. In spite of the non-differentiation of an-amnestic response from primary antibody response, we can expect to benefit from HBV vaccination in those with isolated anti-HBc.