Situação vacinal contra a hepatite b em uma população de idosas no município de Salvador/Bahia

Abstract

Introduction: There is a lack in the literature regarding the vaccination status of the elderly against hepatitis B, a disease that constitutes a serious public health problem in Brazil. Although the vaccine is available free of charge, is effective and inexpensive, there has been an increase in the number of cases of the disease in the last twelve years among individuals aged 60 years and over. The city of Salvador/Bahia is one of the municipalities in the Northeast whose population ages the most and is made up mostly of women. However, the vaccination status of this population remains unknown. Objective: To investigate the vaccination status against hepatitis B in a population of elderly women in the city of Salvador-Bahia. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, with a sample consisting of elderly women enrolled at the Open University for the Third Age of a public university. Data collection was performed using a structured questionnaire, analysis of the vaccination card and quantification serological markers anti-HBs and total anti-HBc antibodies. Results: The study population, consisting of 142 elderly women, was characterized by the predominance of: brown color (50.0%); complete high school (50.7%); single (35.5%); family income between one and two minimum wages (27.5%) and retired (88.7%). Regarding the vaccination status, 49.3% of the participants presented the vaccination card for analysis and of these, 31.4% had the registration of the three doses of the vaccine. The tests for serological markers anti-total HBc and anti-HBs were performed by 66 elderly women, regardless of the presentation of the vaccine card and showed higher frequency of anti-HBs negative (74.2%) and anti-HBc total negative (87.9%), which indicate, respectively, susceptibility and no previous contact with the hepatitis B virus. In the group of elderly women who presented the vaccination card and underwent laboratory tests, 26,3% had a record of at least one dose of the vaccine in their records, and 73,7% had not been vaccinated. Most of the vaccinated elderly women (18.5%) had serum levels of anti-HBs positive, which suggests immunoprotection against the disease. Of these, 5,3% acquired this immunity, probably through vaccination (anti-HBs positive/anti-HBc total negative) and 13,2%, through infection and/or vaccination (anti-HBs positive/anti-HBc total positive). In the group of unvaccinated participants, a higher prevalence of elderly women susceptible to hepatitis B virus infection was observed with a result of anti-HBs (60,5%). Conclusion: The present study revealed that in the sample of the elderly population in Salvador, consisting of women enrolled in an Open University for the Third Age, there is a low frequency of participants vaccinated against hepatitis B and, consequently, a high presumed risk of HBV infection.