Determinants of hepatitis B immunity among healthcare workers and beauty service professionals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: a comparative cross-sectional study

Healthcare workers and beauty service professionals are occupationally exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV), but comparative evidence on serologically confirmed hepatitis B immunity and its determinants remains limited in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This study assessed and compared the prevalence of hepatitis B immunity and its determinants among both at-risk occupational groups in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between August 2024 and February 2025 among 440 participants, comprising 220 healthcare workers and 220 beauty service professionals selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and serological analysis. HBV serological markers were screened using the OnSite HBV-5 Rapid Test, and anti-HBs was quantified using BioELISA anti-HBs ELISA. Hepatitis B immunity was defined as anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests, and multivariable logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The prevalence of hepatitis B immunity was significantly higher among healthcare workers than beauty service professionals (85/220 [38.6%] vs. 31/220 [14.1%], p < 0.0001). Immunity among healthcare workers was predominantly vaccine-induced, whereas naturally acquired immunity following previous HBV exposure was more common among beauty service professionals. In the pooled analysis, increasing age was associated with higher odds of immunity (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.12; p = 0.0128), while beauty service professionals had lower odds of immunity (aOR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13–0.79; p = 0.0143). Among healthcare workers, nurses had lower odds of immunity (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.94; p = 0.0377). Among beauty service professionals, male sex (aOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.83; p = 0.0345), monthly income ≤₦85,000 (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09–0.75; p = 0.0114), and poor HBV preventive practice (aOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.06–0.40; p < 0.0001) were independently associated with lower odds of immunity. Hepatitis B immunity was substantially higher among healthcare workers than beauty service professionals. The low immunity among beauty service professionals highlights the need for targeted HBV vaccination, vaccine-dose completion, post-vaccination anti-HBs testing, and strengthened infection prevention interventions within the informal beauty sector.