Cross-sectional hospital based-study on the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers among health care workers, NWR, Cameroon.

Abstract

Background:
Hepatitis B virus infection is a major
public health issue worldwide, with about 257 million people reported by WHO to
be chronic carriers in 2015. HBV can be contracted via direct contact with
infected body fluid and infection is almost always asymptomatic. Although HCWs
are at high risk of HBV infection, little is known about the sero-prevalence of
the various HBV markers among HCWs in Cameroon. The present study was taken to
evaluate the prevalence of the different HBV serological markers among HCWs in
the NWR, Cameroon.

Sample for this cross-sectional hospital based
study was carried out between April to September 2017. 395 HCWs were recruited
for this study. The serum of the HCWs were tested for the presence of HBV core
antibody (anti-HBc), Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), HBV e antibody
(anti-HBe) and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using the MonalisaTM
ELISA kits produced by BIO-RAD laboratories. Data was analysed using SPSS
version 20.0 for Mac.

Among the 395 participants, 270 (68.4%) of them
were females, 187 (47.3%) had been exposed to HBV, 145 (36.7%) had resolved the
infection, 42 (10.6%) were current HBV carriers, 10 (2.5%) were infective, 36
(9.1%) were vaccinated and 172 (43.5%) were still susceptible. Exposure to HBV,
past infection and susceptibility were significantly associated with age while
the rate of vaccination was significantly associated with the job of the HCW in
the health facilities.

The prevalence of HBV exposure and infection among
HCWs obtained in this study was high while the level of vaccination in this at-risk
population was low. Adequate steps should be taken to sensitize this population
on HBV and the vaccination procedure.