TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among health care workers in Southern Ghana
AU - Efua, Senoo Dogbey Vivian
AU - Adwoa, Wuaku Delali
AU - Armah, Deborah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Introduction: The World Health Organization estimates that 37% of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections among Health Care Workers (HCWs) are due to percutaneous occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. In Ghana, occupational exposures are rising; however, the burden of HBV infection in HCWs remains unknown. Our study estimated the prevalence of HBV surface antigens and associated factors among HCWs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 340 HCWs using a structured pretested questionnaire and screening for HBV surface antigens. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 with a level of significance set at <0.05. Results: The overall crude prevalence of current HBV infection was 5.9 % (95% CI, 3.0−8.0). Adjusted prevalence by test performance was 5.8%. Prevalence was highest among males 10.2% (95% CI, 4.8-18.5), HCWs other than nurses and doctors 9.2% (95% CI, 4.5−16.2), and those working at lower-level facilities 9.7% (95% CI, 4.8−17.1). Training in the prevention of blood-borne infections was significantly associated with HBV infection (adjusted odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1−9.1) Conclusions: HBV infection is high in this population. In addition to lifesaving interventions such as vaccination and the use of immunoglobulin, training in blood-borne infections could prevent new HBV infections among Ghanaian HCWs.
AB - Introduction: The World Health Organization estimates that 37% of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections among Health Care Workers (HCWs) are due to percutaneous occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. In Ghana, occupational exposures are rising; however, the burden of HBV infection in HCWs remains unknown. Our study estimated the prevalence of HBV surface antigens and associated factors among HCWs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 340 HCWs using a structured pretested questionnaire and screening for HBV surface antigens. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 with a level of significance set at <0.05. Results: The overall crude prevalence of current HBV infection was 5.9 % (95% CI, 3.0−8.0). Adjusted prevalence by test performance was 5.8%. Prevalence was highest among males 10.2% (95% CI, 4.8-18.5), HCWs other than nurses and doctors 9.2% (95% CI, 4.5−16.2), and those working at lower-level facilities 9.7% (95% CI, 4.8−17.1). Training in the prevention of blood-borne infections was significantly associated with HBV infection (adjusted odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1−9.1) Conclusions: HBV infection is high in this population. In addition to lifesaving interventions such as vaccination and the use of immunoglobulin, training in blood-borne infections could prevent new HBV infections among Ghanaian HCWs.
KW - Hepatitis B virus infection
KW - blood and body fluids
KW - health care worker
KW - occupational exposure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150921758&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.01.009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85150921758
SN - 2772-7076
VL - 6
SP - 84
EP - 89
JO - IJID Regions
JF - IJID Regions
ER -