# Hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers: factors associated with the dimensions of the Health Belief Model

## TL;DR

This study explores how beliefs about health influence hepatitis B vaccination rates among healthcare workers.

## Contribution

It identifies specific Health Belief Model dimensions associated with complete hepatitis B vaccination in healthcare workers.

## Key findings

- Perceived susceptibility to hepatitis B was strongly associated with complete vaccination.
- Perceived barriers like time spent vaccinating were inversely related to vaccination completion.
- Vaccination coverage among healthcare workers remains below national targets.

## Abstract

To investigate the association between the dimensions of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and complete vaccination for hepatitis B among healthcare workers (HCW).

Cross-sectional epidemiological study with HCW in Primary Health and Medium Complexity Care. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to test the association between the outcome variable (complete vaccination for hepatitis B based on self-report) and the variables of the HBM dimensions. Prevalence ratio (PR) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated.

453 HCW participated. The prevalence of complete vaccination for hepatitis B was 56.9%. In the final analysis model, the following variables were associated with complete vaccination for hepatitis B: chances of having hepatitis B (PR=1.73) – related to the susceptibility dimension; disease severity (PR=0.74) – related to severity; reduced risk of absenteeism (PR=1.29) – related to benefits; not spending time to get vaccinated (PR=1.41) and not worrying about Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (PR=1.43) – related to barriers.

The completeness of the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, reported by the investigated HCW, reveals the prevalence is below the target established by the Ministry of Health, which follows the national scenario of low coverage presented for other age groups. Understanding the risk perception and severity of hepatitis B can contribute to increasing the prevalence of vaccination for this infection.

Investigar a associação entre as dimensões do Modelo de Crenças em Saúde (MCS) e a vacinação completa para hepatite B entre trabalhadores da saúde (TS).

Estudo epidemiológico de corte transversal com TS da Atenção Primária à Saúde e Média Complexidade. Realizaram-se análises uni e bivariada a fim de testar a associação entre a variável desfecho (vacinação completa para hepatite B a partir do autorrelato) e as variáveis das dimensões do MCS. Foram calculadas razões de prevalência (RP) e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%).

Participaram do estudo 453 TS. A prevalência de vacinação completa para hepatite B foi de 56,9%. No modelo final de análise, estiveram associadas à vacinação completa para hepatite B as variáveis: chance de pegar hepatite B (RP=1,73) – relativa à dimensão de suscetibilidade; gravidade da doença (RP=0,74) – relativa à dimensão de gravidade; diminuição do risco de absenteísmo (RP=1,29) – relativa à dimensão de benefícios; não dispêndio de tempo para se vacinar (RP=1,41) e não preocupação acerca de eventos atribuíveis à vacinação ou imunização (RP=1,43) – relativas à dimensão de barreiras.

A completude do esquema vacinal para hepatite B, referida pelos TS investigados, revela uma prevalência abaixo da meta estabelecida pelo Ministério da Saúde, a qual acompanha o cenário nacional de baixas coberturas apresentado para outras faixas etárias. A compreensão sobre percepção de risco e gravidade da hepatite B pode contribuir para o aumento da prevalência de vacinação para essa infecção.