Seroprevalence Of Hepatitis B Surface Antigenemia Among Health Care Workers In A Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among the health care workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Design and Method: The study was carried out on all the staff members in the employment of the Federal Medical Center, Ido Ekiti, Nigeria as at 30th April 2003.Data were collected by administering a set of questionnaire to every member of staff. Blood samples (3mls) were taken from the left cubital fossa of all the respondents and Hepatitis B surface antigen status determined using the agglutination kits manufactured by Biotech Laboratories USA.

Results: A total of 420 staff members were screened.168 (40%) were males while 252 (60%) were females. Only 18 were found to be positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen giving a prevalence of 4.3%. 9 (50%) of those that were positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen were ward maids/attendants, 6 (33%) were nurses, 2 (11%) were administrative staff and 1 (6%) was a health record staff.

Conclusion: Health care workers are at increased risk of having hepatitis B infection. Health education should be carried out routinely in our hospitals to raise the awareness level among the hospital staff and standard safety measures such as sharps policy should be adopted in the handling of blood products and sharps.


Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen and Health care workers

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 10 (4) 2007 pp. 287-289