Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B in public health dentists

Vaccination coverage and immunity verification from 64 dentists of the Brazilian Unified Health System were investigated. An immunochromatographic method was used to verify immunity against the disease.

RESULTS:

Overall, 77.77% of participating dentists completed the vaccination schedule; 37.50% had negative anti-HBs test results. Furthermore, 60.93% of participants never underwent anti-HBs tests and 40% did not know how to correctly interpret results.

CONCLUSIONS:

Numerous dentists were not immune to the disease. Few participants previously performed the test, with many not knowing how to interpret the results.

Keywords:
Hepatitis B; Vaccination Coverage; Immunization; Dentists

Variable	n	%
Gender
Female	40	62.50
Male	24	37.50
Total	64	100.00
Age Group
21 to 35 years	10	15.63
36 to 46 years	29	45.31
47 to 57 years	17	26.56
58 years and over	8	12.50
Total	64	100.00
Experience Time
Less than 5 years	4	6.25
Between 5 and 15 years	11	17.19
Between 16 and 26 years	33	51.56
Greater than 26 years	16	25.00
Total	64	100.00
Public Service Time
Less than 5 years	11	17.18
Between 5 and 15 years	18	28.13
Between 16 and 26 years	27	42.19
Greater than 26 years	8	12.50
Total	64	100.00
Educational Level
Without specialization	28	43.75
With specialization	36	56.25
Total	64	100.00

Anti-HBs test result	n	%
Negative	24	37.50
Positive	40	62.50
Total	64	100.00
Have you ever been tested for anti-HBs?	n	%
No	39	60.93
Yes	25	39.07
Total	64	100.00
How many doses of the vaccine have you received?	n	%
None	1	0.01
Two	3	4.76
Three	39	61.90
More than three	10	15.87
I don’t know	11	17.46
Total	64	100.00
Does the vaccine provide immunity throughout life?	n	%
No	13	20.31
I don’t know	20	31.25
Yes	31	48.44
Total	64	100.00
What does a positive anti-HBs test result mean for you?	n	%
I’m immune	12	48.00
I don’t know	6	24.00
What does a negative anti-HBs test result mean for you?
I’m not immune	3	12.00
I do not have the disease	3	12.00
I don’t know	1	4.00
Total	25	100.00

	Completed vaccination schedule
	No		Yes		Total		Test	p-value
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Anti-HBs test results
Negative	8	33.33	16	66.67	24	100.00	Chi-square	0.2531
Positive	7	17.50	33	82.50	40	100.00
Have you undergone the anti-HBs test?
No	12	30.77	27	69.23	39	100.00	Fisher’s exact test	0.1304
Yes	3	12.00	22	88.00	25	100.00
Have you been given guidance on hepatitis B?
No	2	66.67	1	33.33	3	100.00	Fisher’s exact test	0.1344
Yes	13	21.31	48	78.69	61	100.00

Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT Caixa Postal 118, 38001-970 Uberaba MG Brazil, Tel.: +55 34 3318-5255 / +55 34 3318-5636/ +55 34 3318-5287, http://rsbmt.org.br/ - Uberaba - MG - Brazil
E-mail: rsbmt@uftm.edu.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. Fernando Yamamoto Chiba. e-mail:fernandochiba@foa.unesp.br