Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October-December | Volume: 5 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 6-13
Seroprevalence of Viral Hepatitis (B and/or C) Among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Federal Medical Center Jalingo
Danjuma Kamlen Adda1, Obed Tiwah John1,2, Abdulhafiz Lamiya1
1Department of Research Center for Initiative and Development Taraba
2Department of Statistics and Operations Research Modibbo Adama University of technology Yola
Corresponding Author: Abdulhafiz Lamiya
ABSTRACT
Health care workers are at risk population to viral hepatitis infection due to constant exposure to the source of infectious agent. This study aimed to determine the statuses of hepatitis B and C viral infections as both single and/or co-infection among HCWs in a bid to determine the level of endemicity of both viral infections for the study group as well as add to the burden of knowledge available for viral hepatitis. The population of the study included HCWs at Federal Medical Center, Jalingo. The sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula for determining sample size. Ethical clearance was obtained from the hospital management. Demographic data as well as blood samples were collected between December 2018- May 2019 from patients who met the inclusion criteria and willingly agreed to participate. Viral hepatitis tests were carried out using rapid diagnostic kits as described by the manufacture. Data collected were entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 and moved to statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25 and R for analysis. Out of the 160 participants, 5.60% and 10.60% were found to be positive for HBV and HCV respectively. Only 0.6% of the entire population were found to be co-infected with both HBV and HCV. Participants within the age bracket of 18-34 were found to have the highest prevalence of both the viruses. Male participants had the highest prevalence for HCV as the female had the highest for HBV. The findings of this study confirms that HCWs are at risk population to viral hepatitis infection with intermediate and high prevalence being reported for HBV and HCV positivity respectively, though several other factors including vaccination, knowledge, attitude and practices towards the viral infection by the participants might have played pivotal role in the endemicity.
Keywords: health care workers; sero-prevalence; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus.