الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Hepatitis B and C viral infections are a major public health problems and leading causes of chronic liver disease and hepatic fibrosis that progresses in some patients to cirrhosis and HCC (Perz et al., 2006).
Also they are considered now one of the biggest risks facing healthcare workers including auxiliary workers (Hussain et al., 2010). While these infections can be prevented (Damani, 2003).
Good knowledge; at least about modes of transmission and methods of prevention of HBV and HCV infections can prevent the infection among these vulnerable group, as their work in hospital through them in the danger of being infected with HBV and/or HCV, so this study was conducted to identify knowledge, attitude and practice of auxiliary workers about hepatitis B and C infections.
A total coverage of auxiliary workers who deal with patients and hospital wastes in Sohag University Hospital was done to identify the awareness and compliance of auxiliary workers and to apply a health education intervention for a group of workers from surgical departments. Data were collected through personal interviews with auxiliary workers by using an anonymous questionnaire which was constructed to cover a variety of items concerning knowledge, attitude and practice of auxiliary workers about knowledge, attitude and practice of auxiliary workers about hepatitis B and C infections.
As illustrated from the results of this study, all auxiliary workers didn’t receive any educational courses about HBV and HCV infections. But they had some knowledge about HBV and HCV infections; their knowledge means score were 43.86 - 53.83 - 65.00 and 48.27 for nature/modes of transmission, symptoms/complications, diagnostic methods/treatment, and methods of prevention respectively.
Most of auxiliary workers had a history of exposure to needle stick injuries. About 25% of them received HBV vaccine, only 3.10% received the full three doses of vaccine. 7.30% of auxiliary workers knew that they had either hepatitis B or C infection. As regard hand washing practice and wearing gloves practice the means score were 43.00 and 55.74 respectively. By asking about the reasons of non-compliance to these practices, it was clear that there were a variety of reasons including lack of time, lack of interest or belief in the benefits of compliance of these practices and the gloves hinder the work. Most of auxiliary workers correctly disposed the hospital wastes, but only 27.97% of them used antiseptic solution in cleaning of a blood spot on the ground.
After health education intervention for the selected group (60 auxiliary workers from surgical departments); the knowledge and practice of the intervened group of auxiliary workers were reassessed and the result proved the highly statistically significant difference between knowledge and practice before and after the health education intervention.
Conclusion
According to the results of this study, it is concluded that:
• The knowledge means score of auxiliary workers as regard modes of transmission and the methods of prevention of HBV and HCV infections weren’t desirable.
• The most Percussive results of this study that no any auxiliary worker received health education intervention as regard HBV and HCV infections, also the very low percentage of auxiliary workers who receive the full three doses of HBV vaccine.
• This study showed a highly statistically significant difference between the knowledge of auxiliary works before and after health education intervention. Also the change in hand washing and glove wearing practices of the workers before and after health education intervention was desirable.
• Also the intervened auxiliary workers to some extent retained the information and follow the instructions, this was illustrated as there was no statistically significant difference between the knowledge and practice of the intervened group of workers directly after health education intervention and two months later, this was promising result as health education promoted and maintained the knowledge and practice score among the intervened group of auxiliary workers.
Recommendations
Based on the results of the present study it was recommended that:
1- Provision of health education program for the remaining auxiliary workers through the infection control committee in the hospital concerning HBV and HCV infections and education of infection control measures, disease transmission and on benefits of HBV vaccine and other preventive ways.
2- Provision of the needed HBV vaccine for all auxiliary workers by the health institution by bearing the cost for vaccinating and organizing vaccination program to achieve 100% coverage with administrative support as multidisciplinary approach is required.
3- Another effective way is that vaccination of auxiliary workers can be made mandatory at the time of entry in service.
4- Proper NSI or blood and body fluid exposure reporting, documentation and post exposure prophylaxis.
5- The hospital auxiliary workers should be screened periodically for early detection of hepatitis B and C and results should be informed to the infection control committee.
7- Control of the hospital environment including environmental sanitation and house keeping practices.
8- Sanitary disposal of hospital wastes and provision of equipments needed for sanitary disposal such as safe sharp containers.