| dc.description.abstract | Hepatitis B infection is a world wide health problem; however, the biggest burden is in Sub-Saharan Africa. Given the parental mode of transmission of HB Virus, health care workers (HCW) are at a special risk of acquiring the infection. A number of studies have revealed a relatively higher prevalence among HCW compared to the general population. Treatments for acute infection and the complications of chronic infection such as Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are not satisfactory and this leaves prevention as the main strategy against this infection. Observance of the universal precaution and safety measures and vaccination of people at risk are the main methods of prevention among Health care workers. Unfortunately in many African countries including Uganda, the universal precaution and safety measures are inadequate and vaccination of health workers has not been implemented as a policy.
The prevalence of Hepatitis B among HCW Uganda in not known. There is no policy on vaccination of health care workers thus the majority are at risk of getting the infection from their work places. Information obtained from this study will hopefully lay ground for development of policy on vaccination and improving the existing preventive measures.
Being a nursing assistant was found to be associated with a 5 times risk of having Hepatitis B infection in the study population (p value 0.01). Carrying out dentistry work, ward or theatre cleaning was found to be associated with a 7 and 5 times risk of acquiring Hepatitis B infection (p-value 0.02) respectively. A history of at least one needle stick injury in the past one year was found associated with a 4 times risk of having current infection with Hepatitis B virus (p-value 0.02). On the other hand, it was also observed that reported consistent use of gloves as associated with 60% reduction in the risk of acquiring Hepatitis B infection (p-value 0.034).
The prevalence of Hepatitis B infection among health care workers in Mulago Hospital is 8.1%, which is within the reported range for this country. The risk factors for Hepatitis B infection among health care workers are; dentistry work, ward theatre cleaning, being a nursing assistant and a history of needle stick injuries. On the other hand consistent use of gloves while attending to patient’s body fluids is protective against Hepatitis B infection.
The cadre nursing assistant, dentistry, theatre assistants and laboratory technicians are at a high risk of contracting Hepatitis B infection compared to other categories of health care workers in Mulago Hospital | en_US |
