STUDY OF AWARENESS ABOUT HEPATITIS B AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS, A VULNERABLE GROUP OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS (HCWS)

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B is a serious global public health problem. Awareness regarding this serious disease (preventable by vaccination) was lacking among majority of healthcare workers. As risk of occupational exposure to HBV among healthcare workers was a major concern. This study was conducted to assess the level of awareness, attitudes and practice among medical students regarding hepatitis B infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2014 among 352 undergraduate medical students. Data were collected using predesigned, pretested questionnaire and analysed by using EPI info 3.5.1. RESULTS 93.2% said hepatitis B was transmitted by contaminated blood and body fluid and by unsterilised syringes, needles and surgical instruments. 97.2% said hepatitis B was diagnosed by hepatitis markers test, 89.2% said that vaccination was the choice for treatment of hepatitis B, 94.6% said that vaccination was main source of post exposure prophylaxis and 91.2% said that HBIG was used for post exposure prophylaxis. Most of the students had positive attitude about hepatitis B. Among 352 students, 56.2% were fully vaccinated and 8.8% were partially vaccinated and 35% were unvaccinated. CONCLUSION Different aspects of knowledge about hepatitis B were quite good among medical students, but there was a gap in practice as 44% students were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against hepatitis B

Estimation of tuberculosis incidence at subnational level using three methods to monitor progress towards ending TB in India, 2015–2020

Objectives We verified subnational (state/union territory (UT)/district) claims of achievements in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence in 2020 compared with 2015, in India.Design A community-based survey, analysis of programme data and anti-TB drug sales and utilisation data.Setting National TB Elimination Program and private TB treatment settings in 73 districts that had filed a claim to the Central TB Division of India for progress towards TB-free status.Participants Each district was divided into survey units (SU) and one village/ward was randomly selected from each SU. All household members in the selected village were interviewed. Sputum from participants with a history of anti-TB therapy (ATT), those currently experiencing chest symptoms or on ATT were tested using Xpert/Rif/TrueNat. The survey continued until 30 Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases were identified in a district.Outcome measures We calculated a direct estimate of TB incidence based on incident cases identified in the survey. We calculated an under-reporting factor by matching these cases within the TB notification system. The TB notification adjusted for this factor was the estimate by the indirect method. We also calculated TB incidence from drug sale data in the private sector and drug utilisation data in the public sector. We compared the three estimates of TB incidence in 2020 with TB incidence in 2015.Results The estimated direct incidence ranged from 19 (Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) to 1457 (Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya) per 100 000 population. Indirect estimates of incidence ranged between 19 (Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and 788 (Dumka, Jharkhand) per 100 000 population. The incidence using drug sale data ranged from 19 per 100 000 population in Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to 651 per 100 000 population in Centenary, Maharashtra.Conclusion TB incidence in 1 state, 2 UTs and 35 districts had declined by at least 20% since 2015. Two districts in India were declared TB free in 2020