scholarly journals Prevalence of Blood-Borne Viruses in Health Care Workers of a Northern District in Pakistan: Risk Factors and Preventive Behaviors

Author(s):  
Muhammad Zuhaib Khan ◽  
Shahab Saqib ◽  
Sayed Irtiza Hussain Shah Gardyzi ◽  
Javaria Qazi

Background. Blood-borne viral infections like viral hepatitis are highly prevalent in Pakistan. There is also a potential threat of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spread in the country. Health care workers (HCWs) are a high risk population for acquiring such viral infections and potential spread to the patients. This study aimed to determine the frequency of three blood-borne viruses: HCV, HBV, and HIV in HCWs of district Malakand in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan. Moreover, risk factors and preventive behaviors among HCWs were investigated in detail.Materials and Methods.Prevalence was investigated using serological assays followed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based characterization. A total of 626 health care workers working at 17 different health care units, belonging to 6 different job categories, were included in this study.Results.HIV was not detected in the HCWs while rate of prevalence of HCV and HBV was far less (0.8 % and 0.64 %, resp.) as compared to general population (4.7%–38%). The majority of HCWs were aware of the mode of spread of these viruses and associated risk factors. Needle stick injury was found to be the most important risk factor for possible acquisition of these infections.

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manal Mohamed Anwar ◽  
Doaa Ahmed ◽  
Mostafa Sheemy ◽  
Mohamed El-Tayeb

Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to Hepatitis B & C virus transmission due to injuries and frequency of exposure. We aimed to assess seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infection among nurses and housekeepers in Beni-Suef university hospital, and to identify possible risk factors. A cross sectional study was conducted from March to July 2016 using a self-administered questionnaire. A blood sample was withdrawn from each participant and was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. ELISA seropositivity to HCV was confirmed by PCR. The study involved 175/255 participants with a response rate of 68.5%. Nurses constituted 76% and 24% were housekeepers. Overall prevalence of HCV seropositivity was 4.6%; detected by “ELISA". Confirmatory PCR testing revealed positivity in 75% (6/8) of them. Cut injuries was a risk factor for HCV positivity (OR 4.388, 95% CI 0.859 - 22.4, P= 0.05). Previous training and use of gloves was a protective factor (OR 0.135, 95% CI .016- 1.118, P= 0.03 and OR 0.241, 95% CI 0.055- 1.04, P= 0.04 respectively). None of the participants were found to be HBV seropositive. Practices and behaviours posing risk for HCWs included needle stick injury (NSI) and cut injuries. Focus on improving safety training programs to HCWs and provision of infection prevention equipment is needed. In addition regular reporting, follow up and assessment of occupational exposures should be in place.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricarda Sassmannshausen ◽  
Ruud H. Deurenberg ◽  
Robin Köck ◽  
Ron Hendrix ◽  
Annette Jurke ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Parantainen ◽  
Minna Anthoni ◽  
America Valdes ◽  
Marie-Claude Lavoie ◽  
Ulla-Maija Hellgren ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuli Song ◽  
Yongjie Zhou ◽  
Wenwang Rao ◽  
Xiangyang Zhang

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare prevalence and risk factors of somatization (SOM) between health care workers and non-health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods From 14 February to 29 March 2020, an online survey was performed in both 605 health care workers and 1151 non-health care workers. Based on the somatization dimension score of the Symptom Checklist-90, participants were divided into non-SOM group and SOM group. Results Health care workers had higher prevalence rate of SOM (p < 0.001) than non-health care workers, with an OR of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.22–2.36, p = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that in non-health care workers, the risk factors of SOM included other ethnicities, insomnia, and suicide, while in health care workers, the risk factors included working 6–8 h per day, and working ≥10 h per day during COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions Our research suggests that both non-health care workers and health care workers have a relatively high prevalence of somatization. However, the related factors for somatization in both groups are significantly different, showing that medical service-related factors are associated with somatization in health care workers, while demographic and clinical factors are associated with somatization in non-health care workers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Solomon ◽  
Dejene Lemessa

Abstract Background: Health care workers are susceptible to acquiring blood and body fluids borne infections due to their occupations involving contact with patients and their body fluids, although studies conducted in Ethiopia are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in governmental health facilities in West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.Materials and methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 19 to June 25, 2018. A total of 381 health care workers were selected by simple random sampling from 31 sampled governmental health facilities using proportional to size allocation. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, entered into Epi-info version 7, and analyzed by SPSS version 21. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated for variables retained in the multivariable logistic regression and significance declared at p<0.05.Results: Of 377 health care workers who participated, the study found that 233 (61.2%) were exposed to blood and body fluids in their lifetime. Previous needle stick injury (AOR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75), type of health facility (AOR=0.42; 95%CI: 0.26-0.68), handwashing practice (AOR=0.15; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.31), and perceiving at risk (AOR=0.16; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.98) were protective factors whereas long work experience (AOR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.13-1.93) was a risk factor for the exposure.Conclusions: Exposures to blood and body fluids during patient care were common among health care workers in the study area. Therefore, health care workers especially those newly hired and working in hospitals should pay due attention to their occupation's safety and regularly practice hand washing during critical times.


2000 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. McEwan ◽  
N.G. Dewhurst ◽  
F. Daly ◽  
C.D. Forbes ◽  
J.J.F. Belch

Summary analyses of screening data were used to ascertain the cardiovascular risk profile in a sample of health care workers in Scotland. A sample of NHS staff (298 women and 78 men) were screened during visits to Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) in 1996 and 1997. Comparisons were made within subsets and with previous screening studies. Health care workers have been a neglected component of the workforce for receiving education about risk factors. The high prevalence of smokers found in this sample should be a cause for concern.


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