Poor knowledge: a predictor to non-adherence to hepatitis B virus post-exposure prophylaxis in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. – C.C Egwuatu, O.O. Oduyebo, C. Egwuatu, and G.I Ogban
ABSTRACT
Healthcare workers are at high risk of contracting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through exposure to blood or body fluid among patients and health care workers. This study was conducted to determine the adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with hepatitis B following accidental and inoculation injuries among healthcare workers in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and to examine the need for a post-exposure prophylaxis policy. The level of awareness and adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with hepatitis B in LUTH was low (44%) in spite of the healthcare workers high level of knowledge on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its route of transmission.This low level of awareness was due to several factors including; low level of observation of Universal Precaution guidelines, newly grooming infection control committee which many healthcare workers were not aware of, non-existence of post-exposure prophylaxis policy guidelines, not making Hepatitis B immunization and checking back the antibody titre compulsory to every healthcare worker, and lack of management commitment towards workers safety. We conclude that Hepatitis B virus post-exposure prophylaxis policy should be implemented in LUTH as this will reduce the high prevalence of such infections and ensure that in the event of an accident, specific guidelines are followed to protect the injured.