Hepatitis B and C Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Rwanda

dc.contributor.authorKateera, Fredrick
dc.contributor.authorWalker, Timothy D
dc.contributor.authorMutesa, Leon
dc.contributor.authorMutabazi, Vincent
dc.contributor.authorMusabeyesu, Emmanuel
dc.contributor.authorMukabatsinda, Constance
dc.contributor.authorBihizimana, Pascal
dc.contributor.authorKyamanywa, Patrick
dc.contributor.authorKarenzi, Ben
dc.contributor.authorOrikiiriza, Judy T
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-11T07:42:32Z
dc.date.available2022-04-11T07:42:32Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractBackground Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) are significant global public health challenges with health care workers (HCWs) at especially high risk of exposure in resource-poor settings. We aimed to measure HBV and HCV prevalence, identify exposure risks and evaluate hepatitis-related knowledge amongst Rwandan tertiary hospital HCWs. Methods A cross sectional study involving tertiary hospital employees was conducted from October to December 2013. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect data on HCWs' socio-demographics, risk factors and knowledge of blood-borne infection prevention. Blood samples were drawn and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. Results Among 378 consenting HCWs, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was 2.9% (11/378; 95% CI: 1.9 to 4.6%) and anti-HCV positivity 1.3% (5/378; 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.7%). Occupational exposure to blood was reported in 57.1% (216/378). Of the 17 participants (4.5%; 17/378) who reported having received the HBV vaccine, only 3 participants (0.8%) had received the three-dose vaccination course. Only 42 HCWs (42/378; 11.1%) were aware that a HBV vaccine was available. Most HCW (95.2%; 360/378) reported having been tested for HIV in the last 6 months. Conclusions Despite their high workplace exposure risk, HBV and HCV sero-prevalence rates among HCWs were low. The low HBV vaccination coverage and poor knowledge of preventative measures among HCWs suggest low levels of viral hepatitis awareness despite this high exposure.en_US
dc.identifier.citationKateera, F., Walker, T.D., Mutesa, L., Mutabazi, V., Musabeyesu, E., Mukabatsinda, C., Bihizimana, P., Kyamanywa, P., Karenzi, B. and Orikiiriza, J.T. (2015). Hepatitis B and C seroprevalence among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Rwanda. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 109(3), pp.203-208.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0035-9203 / 1878-3503
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12280/2933
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherOxford Univ Press , Great Clarendon St, Oxford, England, Ox2 6dpen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene;109(3)
dc.subjectHealth care workersen_US
dc.subjectHepatitis Ben_US
dc.subjectHepatitis Cen_US
dc.subjectRwandaen_US
dc.titleHepatitis B and C Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Rwandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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