National Journal of Health Sciences, 2018, 3, 122-127 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Nurses, Regarding Hepatitis B Prevention at Public Hospital Lahore Sumaira Rehman*, Afsar Ali, Naseem Rooman, Najma Sardar National College of Nursing, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. INTRODUCTION Hepatitis is a disease of inflammatory in nature attacking liver, a vital organ in the body. Some patients remain asymptomatic while others develop symptoms and signs like yellow skin discoloration, whites of eyes, decrease in appetite, tiredness and abdominal pain etc. [1]. Hepatitis B is an infection common worldwide as a serious healthcare problem more prominent in developing countries [2]. Worldwide there are greater than 300 million people carry the infection of virus where 90% are from the developing countries. Moreover, 75% are from the countries of Asia where 8 to 15% of the population are infected with some kinds of virus [3]. Hepatitis B infection is preventable disease, through safe and appropriate following of vaccination as per worldwide recommendation. The proper operation of vaccines is still questionable in many parts of the world including our country Pakistan. Especially, the health care workers are having insufficient protection. Health care workers are aware of all consequences and even then they have very low ratio of vaccination. Many vaccinated persons having the risk of contracting Hepatitis B infection 6-30% caused by HBV infected needles [4]. Globally, in all hospitals and health care organizations, infection remains a huge problem and a greater public health concern. It is considered a very serious issue because it contributes to large number of morbidity, mortality and increased cost [5]. The aim of infection prevention measures is to make sure to protect the vulnerable population, who are at greater risk of acquiring the infection of Hepatitis B virus. These risk groups can be from community as well as hospitals during treatment [5]. In developing countries like Pakistan, the prevalence of Hepatitis B is increasing and the preventive measures are not practiced properly by nurses and doctors and other health care professionals [6]. Annual deaths from the infection of Hepatitis B are around 1 million and every year 4.5 millions of new incidences are reported globally [7]. Nurses and other health care workers are always at a greater risk of getting the Hepatitis B virus because they are always exposed to sharp injury, and body fluids of patients [8]. It is observed that Nurses and physicians are every time directly in contact with patients such as injections, transfusion of blood, and surgical site care and become vulnerable to acquire any infection [9]. Health care providers should be aware of the dangers of such infections and should take proper precautionary measures [10]. Along with the doctors and nurses, the other trainees such as medical and nursing students *Address correspondence to this author at the National College of Nursing, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: sumairarehman82@gmail.com © 2018 NiBD Publications www.njhsciences.com 122 Research Article Abstract: Background: Occupational exposure occurs frequently among Health Care Workers (HCWs). The most serious occupational health hazard faced by HCWs worldwide is exposure to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Having enough knowledge and proper attitudes toward this infection is crucial in prevention of occupational hepatitis infection. Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control at Services hospital Lahore. In this study well-structured close ended questionnaire adopted from a study, knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers at the princess Marina hospital in Botswana regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control will be used (Machiya, 2011). The study was conducted in Services hospital among 200 nurses to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of Nurses, regarding Hepatitis B prevention and control at a tertiary care hospital Lahore. Results: It was found that most of the nurses were enough knowledge, positive attitude and better practice among nurses. Mostly, nurses response are positively very rare participant response are negative. The knowledge of Hepatitis B infection prevention, 81% of the participants knew that Hepatitis B infection can be transmitted by carriers. Majority 89.5% knew that Hepatitis B infection cannot be spread through casual contact. Majority knew that open wound, contaminated blood and body fluids, unsterilized syringes, needles and surgical instruments could easily transmit the Hepatitis B infection. Among the participants 86.5% had knowledge that vaccines can prevent Hepatitis B. 23% of the participants had negative attitude towards Hepatitis B. The attitude was positive among 55.6% participants and 54.2% participants were performing safe preventive practices. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Hepatitis B, Prevention, Control, Nurses. doi.org/10.21089/njhs.34.0122