Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B and C seropositivity among health care workers in a semi urban setting in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Health care workers are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B and C infections from patients in the course of providing care to them. The study is thus aimed at determining the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B and C amongst health care workers of a secondary health care facility in northcentral Nigeria as a means of disease prevention.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study and recruitment was on the basis of arrival at the study venue, without any random selection. A structured questionnaire was used to determine relevant socio-demographic variables and risk factors for
hepatitis B and C. Antibodies to HCV and Hepatitis B surface antigen were detected using enzyme linked immuno-absorbant assay (ELISA).
Results: The complete (three doses) hepatitis B vaccine uptake was 21.3%. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C were 8.4% and 6.5% respectively. Co-infection was found in 1.3% of workers. Staff who were married or had ever been married were
less likely to have hepatitis B compared to those who were single (OR =0.07: 95% CI 0.01 – 0.69), and those who did not have a personal clipper for barbing had a fivefold likelihood of being hepatitis B seropositive compared to those who had a clipper (OR= 5.24; 95% CI 1.18 – 23.23).
Conclusion: There is a high sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and C and a low prevalence of Co-infection amongst workers.

Keywords: Prevalence, Correlates, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Health care workers