Knowledge and Practices about Tetanus Immunization among Physicians in Damanhour, Beheira Governorate | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 4, Volume 35, Issue 2, April 2005, Pages 267-280 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2005.177416 | ||
| Author | ||
| Hanan Z. Shatat | ||
| Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| In spite of the clear-cut guidelines regarding tetanus immunization, it is sometimes missed by the health personnel or given after injury without taking into consideration previous immunization status. One of the reasons could be that records are usually not available and history not reliable, but other reasons could be that physicians themselves are not aware of the correct immunization schedules in different groups or even if they know, they are not giving proper guidance to the general public. The study was planned to assess physicians’ knowledge about pre-exposure and post-exposure tetanus prophylaxis and their practices as regards post-injury tetanus prophylaxis. A stratified random sample was selected from physicians working in rural and urban health centers and hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health beside private practitioners. Data were collected through a pre-designed questionnaire for self-administration. The correlation knowledge of tetanus immunization schedule in children, pregnant women, and adults was 92.2%, 84.4%, and 7.8%, respectively. Hospitals and health centers’ physicians had better knowledge about tetanus immunization of children and adults than private practitioners. Only 62.5% and 48.4% favored giving tetanus toxoid after animal bites and burns which were considered unacceptable lack among physicians. As regards their post-injury practices, all of them admitted giving anti-tetanic serum as the sole tool for tetanus prophylaxis in wounds that they considered tetanus-prone without any attempt to enquire about the patient’s vaccination status or to start immunization by the toxoid. The present study showed defects in physicians’ knowledge and incorrect practices about tetanus prophylaxis that needs to be upgraded through in-service training, continuing medical education programs, beside posters at the work place. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Tetanus Immunization; Physicians; Damanhour; Beheira Governorate | ||
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