Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice of Hairdressers in Women’s Beauty Salons in Isfahan About Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and AIDS in 2010 and 2011

Abstract

BackgroundBlood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have some common epidemiological characteristics, and have infected millions of people throughout the world. Patients infected by acute hepatitis or HIV infections may not be aware of the disease, and thereby cause transmission to others. During haircut, shave, or pedicure, barbers may accidentally expose to their clients’ blood, transmit their own infection to them, or transmit the infection from one client to another. Thus the beauty salon staff has a potential role in expansion of infections.ObjectivesAs being barbers and barbering are risk factors to some infectious diseases, determining the role of knowledge and awareness of barbers and hairdressers about topics related to AIDS, and hepatitis B and C is important.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 2010-2011 on 281 women’s beauty salons located in eleven urban districts of Isfahan town. A multistage cluster sampling was performed and knowledge assessment questionnaire accompanied by practice checklist regarding hepatitis B and C, and AIDS were completed by trained interviewers. Knowledge and practice scores were determined in 0-20 and 0-10 scales, respectively. The content validity of questionnaire was confirmed by three expert opinions and the test-retest reliability of the questionnaire was determined to be 0.83 in a pilot study on 30 participants. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA test by SPSS software, version 18.ResultsIn the study, 281 hairdressers participated. There was a statistically significant relationship between education level and knowledge score of hairdressers (P < 0.001). We found a statistically significant relationship between knowledge level and job history of hairdressers according to the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (P = 0.004). The results did not show any statistically significant relationship between education level and practice scores (P = 0.5). Furthermore, the job history of hairdressers and their practice score did not show a significant relationship (P = 0.77).ConclusionsWe obtained promising results about the knowledge and practice levels of staffs of women’s beauty salons in Isfahan about AIDS, and hepatitis B and C. The target group exhibited an intermediate level of knowledge about the diseases because of important role of barbers in virus transmission; we should provide the best control, evaluation, and continuous teaching programs.

Knowledge and prevalence of viral hepatitis among beauticians

“…The present study showed that more than 80% of beauticians were well informed regarding viral hepatitis, which was higher than that reported by staff of women's beauty salons from Iran, manicurists from Sã o Paulo State (Brazil), and beauticians from Australia [Murtagh and Hepworth, 2004;Oliveira and Focaccia, 2010;Ataei et al, 2013]. It is most likely that the knowledge regarding viral hepatitis observed in the present study was due to the health campaigns carried out in previous years in our country.…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated that the knowledge of viral hepatitis varies among beauticians. Murtagh and Hepworth [] reported poor knowledge about hepatitis C transmission among beauticians from Australia, but Amodio et al [] and Ataei et al [] demonstrated a good level of knowledge about hepatitis B and C among hairdressers from Italy and Iran, respectively. Beauty salons are common in Brazil, and there is information exchange among professionals and their clients; therefore, a good level of knowledge among beauticians could contribute to improve knowledge among their clients.…”

The Effects of Interventional Health Education on the Conditions of Hairdressing Salons and Hairdressers Behaviors

“…They recommended that future efforts should be directed at training and influencing the attitudes of hairdressing employers (25). A study by Ataei et al showed that, staffs of women's beauty salons in Isfahan had intermediate knowledge about blood borne pathogens and recommended more education for increasing knowledge of hairdressers (26). In this study we tried to clarify how interventional education impacts employee health risks and conditions and causes improvement in many aspects of hairdressing.…”

Reprocessamento de materiais utilizados em salões de beleza e biossegurança dos profissionais envolvidos

“…O desenvolvimento econômico do país e os meios de comunicação têm influenciado o aumento da renda e trazendo consigo padrões de imagem e beleza, atingindo todas as camadas sociais, faixas etárias e ambos os sexos. Tal condição tem inspirado os indivíduos a se preocuparem com a qualidade de vida, sobretudo, quanto aos cuidados com o corpo, sendo, necessário o crescimento quantitativo de profissionais que possam atender esta demanda, incluindo as manicures e pedicures 1 A ausência de uma padronização na realização do processo de esterilização prejudica e interfere na eficácia e no uso destes materiais. Para que o processo de esterilização seja totalmente efetivo, a temperatura e o tempo são imprescindíveis e devem ser rigorosamente respeitados, levando-se em consideração que o termo "esterilização" se refere ao processo que elimina todas as formas microbianas de vida 22 .…”