Anti-hepatitis B vaccine adherence among newly graduated professionals of health in the municipality of Goiânia - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v7i3.6509

Abstract

This is a descriptive study, carried out with newly graduated professionals in the health area of Goiânia, Goias State (Brazil), who took part in a study by Santos (2005) and adhered to the first dose of anti-hepatitis B vaccine offered during data collection. This study aimed at verifying acceptance among newly graduated professionals of health in the municipality of Goiânia to second and third doses of anti-hepatitis B; verifying their vaccinal response; and identifying their reasons for non adherence to the vaccination scheme. Subjects were interviewed by telephone and their authorization provided by free and informed consent was confirmed. Forty-six newly graduated professionals took part in the samples. From these, only 4 (8.7%) completed the vaccinal scheme. The main reason reported was forgetfulness (69.6%). None of those completing vaccinal scheme performed Anti-HBs screening, however when the screening was made available all of them adhered to it. Among these, one did not seroconvert. We concluded that there was low adherence to the anti-hepatitis B vaccinal scheme and those adhering to it have not identified the immunological response. We do consider professional awareness a primary stage towards adherence to such effective protective measure.