Abstract
AIM: Hepatitis B virus infection and its sequelae are major global health problems Hepatitis B is an infectious disease occurring worldwide which can be transferred by some professions, including hairdressers and manicurist-pedicurists. It is estimated that 300 – 400 million people worldwide are Hepatitis B virus carriers. This study was designed to determine the knowledge and practices of hairdressers and manicurists-pedicurists who work in women hairdressers in Istanbul towards Hepatitis B.
METHODS: This study was planned as a descriptive research. The population of this study was consisted of hairdressers and manicurist-pedicurists (76 salon) who were members of Istanbul Hairdressing Association in district of Istanbul. Convenience sample of the study included 124 workers in hairdressers who volunteered to participate in this research. The data of the study were collected by face to face interviews with a 47-item questionnaire about hairdresser’s knowledge and practices towards Hepatitis B. Subjects who voluntarily participated in the study were interviewed in their office by the researcher.
RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the participants were male, 54.1% were married, 38.7% had five-year education, and approximately half of them had courses about their job. Half of the participants had regular health controls, 6.6% were porter and 60.7 % was not vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
CONCLUSION: Hairdressers and manicurists-pedicurists who work in women hairdressers in Istanbul don’t have adequate knowledge and practices towards Hepatitis-B and other blood transmitted diseases.

Key words: Hairdresser, Hepatit B, manicurist-pedicurist, women

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Article Language: Turkish English