Predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status in healthcare workers in Belgrade, Serbia, December 2015

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles 2017-04, Vol.22 (16), p.4
• Main Authors: Kisic-Tepavcevic, Darija, Kanazir, Milena, Gazibara, Tatjana, Maric, Gorica, Makismovic, Natasa, Loncarevic, Goranka, Pekmezovic, Tatjana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis B Vaccines - adverse effects; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Humans; Immunization; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Predictions; Prevalence; Serbia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; Variables
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X; 1560-7917
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2017.22.16.30515

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine since 1982, overall coverage of hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) has not reached a satisfactory level in many countries worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination, and to assess the predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status among HCWs in Serbia. Of 380 randomly selected HCWs, 352 (92.6%) were included in the study. The prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination acceptance was 66.2%. The exploratory factor analyses using the vaccination-refusal scale showed that items clustered under 'threat of disease' explained the highest proportion (30.4%) of variance among those declining vaccination. The factor analyses model of the potential reasons for receiving the hepatitis B vaccine showed that 'social influence' had the highest contribution (47.5%) in explaining variance among those vaccinated. In the multivariate adjusted model the following variables were independent predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status: occupation, duration of work experience, exposure to blood in the previous year, and total hepatitis B-related knowledge score. Our results highlight the need for well-planned national policies, possibly including mandatory hepatitis B immunisation, in the Serbian healthcare environment.