Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 39 No. 1 (2021) / Articles

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Published:

Jun 17, 2021

Keywords:

Hepatitis B; Gulu Regional Hospital; knowledge; attitude; health workers; occupational risks; Uganda

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Articles

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Morris Ojara

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Gloria Owomugisha

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Isaac Staron Kibunga

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Lucy Grace Asio

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Ibrahim Bwaga

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Thomas Nabugere

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Richard Martin Tuwayenga

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda

Eric Nzirakaindi Ikoona

ICAP at Columbia University, Freetown, Sierra Leone

David Lagoro Kitara

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P .0. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda; Department of Global Health and Populations, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Abstract

Introduction: hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the commonest causes of acute and chronic liver diseases worldwide. HBV can be transmitted by exposure to infected blood and human secretions through sharp injuries and splashes. Health workers are among the most high-risk groups because they regularly interact with patients. A seroprevalence survey conducted in Uganda in 2014 found a higher prevalence of HBV in Gulu Municipality compared to the rest of Uganda.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers in Gulu Regional Hospital. A stratified random sampling was used. Knowledge ratings and Likert scale were used to score knowledge, attitudes and risks of HBV infections in a qualitative assessment. Ethical approval was obtained and SPSS was used for data analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: one hundred and twenty-six (126) respondents participated; 65 (51.6%) were male, 80 (63.5%) were aged 20-29 years, 74 (58.7%) were not married, 86 (68.3%) had a work experience of 0-9 years, 64 (50.8%) had good knowledge, 90 (71.4%) had positive attitude, 114 (90.5%) had high to very high pre-exposure risks, and 75 (59.5%) had moderate to high exposure and post-exposure risks. There was no significant difference in knowledge (Χ² = 13.895; p = 0.178) and work experience (Χ² = 21.196; p = 0.097) among the health workers.

Conclusion: there is a high pre-exposure, exposure and post-exposure risks of HBV infection among health workers in Gulu Hospital. There is need to augment awareness on HBV infection and design strategies to strengthen and implement infection control measures including HBV vaccination among health workers.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688