Crespo RE, Guanche GH, Márquez FA

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 365-372
PDF size: 430.03 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: hepatitis B is an important occupational risk for health workers to whom the assessment of the immune status against hepatitis B is highly recommended as an essential component of infection control programs.
Objective: to evaluate the immunological status of hepatitis B in Cuban health workers at a community hospital in Qatar.
Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2012 and November 2013. The study population consisted of 385 health workers of Cuban nationality. Immune status was assessed including: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface anti-HBsAg antibodies, and hepatitis C antibodies (Anti-HCV). Univariate analysis was performed using the homogeneity test and then a logistic regression model was fitted.
Results: 376 health workers participated in the survey (response rate 97.7 %), resulting in a coverage rate of 82.4 %, with 29.5 % of health workers with negative results from Anti-HBsAg. Workers who received complete immunization had significant anti-HBsAg (73.9 %) results.
Conclusion: vaccination coverage remains low and many health care workers are at risk for HBV infection.