Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C among health care workers in Omdurman, Sudan

Abstract

Background: Health care workers in developing countries including Sudan are at serious risk of infection from blood-borne pathogens particularly HBV and HCV, because of high prevalence of such pathogens
in these countries.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted during November 2007 to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) and C ( HCV ) and their associated risk factors among the health care workers ( HCW ) of an urban referral hospital in central Sudan .
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique was used to test the blood samples and a
questionnaire to collect socio - demographic data of the study participants ( n = 211 ) .
Results: The seroprevalence of HBsAg was 2.4%. None of the study participants had HCV
antibodies in their blood samples. Age and past history of jaundice were significantly
associated with HBsAg infection. The categories of HCW with higher risk of occupational transmission for HBsAg were nurses and non professional staff.
Conclusion: The occupation risk of HBV infection among the HCW in this study was high for the nurses and cleaning staff. Effective prevention of HBV infection is mainly by vaccination to unexposed HCW, however acceptance of vaccine should be promoted for such high risk categories.

Keywords: Hepatitis B&C; Health care workers; Sudan.

Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (3) 2008: pp. 201-206