Determination Of The Magnitude Of Hepatitis B Viral Infections In Healthcare Workers In St Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a serious global health problem, with 2 billion peoplerninfected worldwide, and 350 million suffering from chronic HBV infection. About 3 millionrnhealthcare workers face occupational exposure to bloodborne viruses each year in which about 2rnmillion to hepatitis B virus infections. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude andrnassociated risk factors of Hepatitis B viral infections in healthcare workers.rnObjective of the Study: This study was initiated to determine the magnitude and associated riskrnfactors of Hepatitis B viral infections in healthcare workers in St Paul Hospital MillenniumrnMedical College Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.rnMethods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in St Paul HospitalrnMillennium Medical College, among healthcare workers from November 2013 – May 2014. Arnconvenient sampling method was utilized to get the required sample size. A structuredrnquestionnaire was used to capture individual socio-demographic characteristics and associatedrnrisk factors. Five ml blood was collected, centrifuged and the serum was analyzed for thernserologic markers of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs using Chemiluminescent MicroparticlernImmunoassay. Descriptive and logistic regression models were used for analysis.rnResults: Among the 313 healthcare workers, the seroprevalence of current hepatitis B viralrninfection was 2.6%; while prevalence of life time exposure was 25.6%. Prevalence of needlernstick and sharp injuries were 33.9% and 35.5% respectively. While, exposure to blood and bodyrnfluids were 57.2% and 44.4% respectively. Consistent use of gloves was reported by 49.8% ofrnHCWs. Doctors practiced 71.4% of consistent use of glove, while laboratorians were the leastrnlikely to consistently use gloves (40.0%). Only 1.6% of HCWs had completed scheduledrnvaccination against HBV and 73.8% of HCWs were susceptible to infection. Exposure to bloodrn(COR: 9.351, 95% CI: 1.164 – 75.095, p < 0.012), jaundiced and diagnosed liver disease (COR:rn3.096, 95% CI: 1.051 – 9.120, p < 0.032), and HBV vaccination (2 = 11.145, p < 0.002), werernindependent risk factors that were potentially associated with hepatitis B viral infections.rnConclusions: The prevalence of current hepatitis B virus infection and life time exposure tornhepatitis B viral infection among health care workers was high. Exposure to potentiallyrninfectious body fluids, needle stick and sharp injuries was also high. Whereas a small proportionrnof healthcare workers are vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection. Besides the doctors,rnnurses and medical laboratory professionals; cleaners, porters and general service providers werernalso at a comparably high or more risk of HBV infection as they interact with patients andrnclinical wastes. Emphasis to continuous medical education and training on infection preventionrnand safety precautions, vaccination package to HCWs, compliance with universal precautions,rnaccess to safer injection technologies and post-exposure management are strongly recommendedrnto improve safety of HCWs and quality of patient care.rnKeywords: Hepatitis B Virus, HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs Seroprevalence, Vaccination, RiskrnFactors, HealthCare Workers.

Get Full Work

Report copyright infringement or plagiarism