Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Nurses, Regarding Hepatitis B Prevention at Public Hospital Lahore

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure occurs frequently among Health Care Workers (HCWs). The most serious occupational health
hazard faced by HCWs worldwide is exposure to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Having enough knowledge and proper attitudes toward this infection is crucial in prevention of occupational hepatitis infection.
Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control at Services hospital Lahore. In this study well-structured close ended questionnaire adopted from a study, knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers at the princess Marina hospital in Botswana regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control will be used (Machiya, 2011). The study was conducted in Services hospital among 200 nurses to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of Nurses, regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control at a tertiary care hospital Lahore.
Results: It was found that most of the nurses were enough knowledge, positive attitude and better practice among nurses. Mostly, nurses response are positively very rare participant response are negative. The knowledge of Hepatitis B infection prevention, 81% of the participants knew that Hepatitis B infection can be transmitted by carriers. Majority 89.5% knew that Hepatitis B infection cannot be spread through casual contact. Majority knew that open wound, contaminated blood and body fluids, unsterilized syringes, needles and surgical instruments could easily transmit the Hepatitis B infection. Among the participants 86.5% had knowledge that vaccines can prevent Hepatitis B. 23% of the participants had negative attitude towards Hepatitis B. The attitude was positive among 55.6% participants and 54.2% participants were performing safe preventive practices.