Post Hepatitis B Vaccination SeroConversion among Health Care Workers in a Referral Hospital Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccine is known to offer protection against transmission of HBV infection. Health care workers are required to have this vaccination as part of their occupational health safety measure. Post vaccination immunological response data for HCWs in our setting is not available. This study therefore aimed at evaluation of anti-HBs titer levels after hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs from tumbi regional referral hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving 246 HCWs was conducted. Five (5 mls) of blood sample was collected from each study participant and the serum was used for HBV immunological anti-HBs quantification by ELISA test. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and a P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Anti-HBs titers of>10 mIU/ml was considered protective and good compliance to vaccine schedule was defined as receiving all the three doses of vaccine at recommended time intervals.

Results: The mean age of study participants was 40 ± 10.8 years where 146 (67.9%) were males. Majority of study participants were nurses 103 (47.9). Smoking was uncommon among the study participants compared to alcohol intake 29 (13.9%). 89.3% health care workers developed protective antibodies after hepatitis vaccination, age below 55 years (OR 2.98, 95% CI, 1.02-8.89) and good compliance to vaccine schedule (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.02-7.43) were the significant predictors of achieving sero-protection.

Conclusion: The seroconversion rate post HBV vaccination is high among HCWs in TRRH and it’s comparable to findings elsewhere. Owing the fact that HCWs are at high risk of HBV infection, it is of paramount importance for HCWs to be tested for protective titers post completion of vaccination schedule. Booster doses of vaccine should be provided to individuals with BMI ≥ 30 and those who fail to comply with vaccination schedule.