Knowledge, attitudes and risk of HIV, HBV and HCV infections in hairdressers of Palermo city (South Italy)

Background: The hairdressing trade may potentially expose its practitioners and their customers toblood-borne infections. Methods: Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards occupational risk ofHIV, HBV and HCV infections were evaluated in a cross-sectional survey, conducted during spring 2008,in 105 out of 112 randomly selected hairdressers of Palermo. Participants were queried by answeringto an anonymous questionnaire. Results: Most of hairdressers (93.3%) knew that HIV and hepatitisare transmitted through parenteral route and could also be transmitted by razors. The availability ofgloves was inadequate, up to 30% of the participants never used them and up to 50% usually reusedthem. In total, 90 respondents stated to perform a sterilization process of the cutting instruments byultraviolet light, but only 70 sterilized the articles between two customers and only 34.3% executeda daily disinfection of the hair brushes. Statistical analysis showed that younger age and post-primaryschool instruction were significantly associated with knowledge and procedures that could preventtransmission of blood-borne virus (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, only 32 hairdressersagreed to participate to a free specific course on occupational risk offered by the University of Palermo.Conclusion: Although the level of awareness among hairdressers about HIV, hepatitis and risk of transmissionwas good, there were some unsafe practices that may lead to infections due to blood-borneviruses. The present article highlights the need to improve specific health messages in media campaignscarried out to general population, diffusing more appropriate educational materials for salons andorganizing obligatory refresher courses for the hairdressing sector.