Hepatitis B virus infection and its associated factors among medical waste collectors at public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The risk of hepatitis B virus infection among medical waste handlers who undergo collection, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes in the health institutions is higher due to frequent exposure to contaminated blood and other body fluids. There is limited evidence on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B among medical waste handlers in eastern Ethiopia. The study was aimed at studying the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and associated risk factors among medical waste collectors at health facilities of eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected medical waste collectors from public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia from March to June 2018. A pre-tested and well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and hepatitis B infection risk factors. A2.5ml venous blood was also collected, centrifuged and the serum was analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen using the instant hepatitis B surface antigen kit. Descriptive summary measures were done. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess the risk of association. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted with 95% CI and all value at P-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant.

RESULTS

From a total of 260 (97.38%) medical waste collectors participated, HBV was detected in 53 (20.4%) of the participants [95%CI; 15.8, 25.6]. No significant differences were observed in the detection rates of HBV with respect to socio-demographic characteristics. In both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, being unvaccinated (AOR = 6.35; 95%CI = [2.53-15.96], P = 0.001), history of blood transfusion (receiving) (AOR; 3.54; 95%CI; [1.02-12.24], P = 0.046), history of tattooing (AOR = 2.86; 95%CI = [1.12-7.27], p = 0.03), and history of multiple sexual partner (AOR = 10.28; 95%CI = [4.16-25.38], P = 0.001) remained statistically significantly associated with HBsAg positivity.

CONCLUSION

This cross-sectional study identified that HBV infection is high among medical waste collectors in eastern Ethiopia. Immunization and on job health promotion and disease prevention measures should be considered in order to control the risk of HBV infection among medical waste collectors in eastern Ethiopia.

Evaluation of the analytical performance of six rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of viral hepatitis B and C in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used in Lubumbashi for the diagnosis of viral hepatitis B and C. To date, there are no works that have been carried out in Lubumbashi to independently assess the performance of such tests. This study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of RDTs for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies in order to identify infected blood donors in Lubumbashi. A total of 300 serum samples (100 HBsAg positive samples; 100 anti-HCV positive samples and 100 HBsAg and anti-HCV negative samples) were tested simultaneously using the 6 locally used RDTs and as gold standard the chemiluminescent assays for HBsAg and the RT-TMA for HCV detection. The six evaluated RDTs demonstrated a sensitivity and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100 % whereas the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) varied from 46 % to 98.1 %. SB BioLine HBsAg test performed best in this study with 100 % of sensitivity, 97.1 % of specificity, 100 % of NPV and 96.9 % of PPV. Furthermore, sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV for SB BioLine HCV test were as follows: 100 %, 98.1 %, 100 % and 93.9 %. Therefore, SD BioLine tests (HBsAg, HCV) would be selected as the first line RDTs for the detection and the diagnostic of hepatitis B and C. They can prevent blood-borne transmission of HBV and HCV in areas with limited incomes as Lubumbashi.