Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia
Beju Ayele,1 Daniel Weldehanna,2 Wondmagegn Demsiss2 1Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Amhara Region, 1145, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Daniel Weldehanna, Email...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Infection and Drug Resistance |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/serological-evidence-and-associated-factors-of-hepatitis-b-virus-and-h-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR |
| _version_ | 1797771005316300800 |
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| author | Ayele B Weldehanna D Demsiss W |
| author_facet | Ayele B Weldehanna D Demsiss W |
| author_sort | Ayele B |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beju Ayele,1 Daniel Weldehanna,2 Wondmagegn Demsiss2 1Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Amhara Region, 1145, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Daniel Weldehanna, Email gebretsadikd@gmail.comBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified viral hepatitis, caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as one of the main global public health issues. People who work in the collection of waste materials, from either household or medical environments, are at greatest risk.Objective: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with HBV and HCV among medical and domestic waste handlers in Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021 at selected healthcare facilities and municipal settings in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. The sample size was determined using a double population proportion formula, and a simple random sampling technique was employed to select 70 individuals in the medical waste handlers (MWHs) group and 206 in the domestic waste handlers (DWHs) group. Five milliliters of venous blood was collected from each participant and tested for HBV and HCV using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23; the prevalence was computed, Fisher’s exact test was used, and logistic regression was applied.Results: A total of 276 study participants were enrolled and the overall seroprevalence of hepatitis virus was 5.1%. The seroprevalence of HBV infection among MWHs and DWHs was 8.6% and 1.9%, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of HCV infections among MWHs and DWHs was 4.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Medical waste handling, having a history of needle stick injury, and not using personal protective equipment were factors significantly associated with HBV infection.Conclusion: The overall seroprevalence of viral hepatitis was high. The prevalence of HBV infection among MWHs was in line with the high endemicity classification of the WHO, and there was a significant difference in prevalence between DWHs and MWHs. Both groups of waste handlers should receive proper attention to protect them from HBV and HCV infection.Keywords: waste handlers, HBV, HCV, Northeast Ethiopia |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:31:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2260a0ab5dfc4b97adaf977559e197a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-6973 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:31:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infection and Drug Resistance |
| spelling | doaj.art-2260a0ab5dfc4b97adaf977559e197a82023-07-27T19:14:33ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732023-07-01Volume 164881489085439Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern EthiopiaAyele BWeldehanna DDemsiss WBeju Ayele,1 Daniel Weldehanna,2 Wondmagegn Demsiss2 1Amhara Public Health Institute, Dessie Branch, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Amhara Region, 1145, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Daniel Weldehanna, Email gebretsadikd@gmail.comBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified viral hepatitis, caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as one of the main global public health issues. People who work in the collection of waste materials, from either household or medical environments, are at greatest risk.Objective: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with HBV and HCV among medical and domestic waste handlers in Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021 at selected healthcare facilities and municipal settings in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. The sample size was determined using a double population proportion formula, and a simple random sampling technique was employed to select 70 individuals in the medical waste handlers (MWHs) group and 206 in the domestic waste handlers (DWHs) group. Five milliliters of venous blood was collected from each participant and tested for HBV and HCV using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23; the prevalence was computed, Fisher’s exact test was used, and logistic regression was applied.Results: A total of 276 study participants were enrolled and the overall seroprevalence of hepatitis virus was 5.1%. The seroprevalence of HBV infection among MWHs and DWHs was 8.6% and 1.9%, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of HCV infections among MWHs and DWHs was 4.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Medical waste handling, having a history of needle stick injury, and not using personal protective equipment were factors significantly associated with HBV infection.Conclusion: The overall seroprevalence of viral hepatitis was high. The prevalence of HBV infection among MWHs was in line with the high endemicity classification of the WHO, and there was a significant difference in prevalence between DWHs and MWHs. Both groups of waste handlers should receive proper attention to protect them from HBV and HCV infection.Keywords: waste handlers, HBV, HCV, Northeast Ethiopiahttps://www.dovepress.com/serological-evidence-and-associated-factors-of-hepatitis-b-virus-and-h-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRwaste handlershbvhcvnortheast ethiopia |
| spellingShingle | Ayele B Weldehanna D Demsiss W Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia Infection and Drug Resistance waste handlers hbv hcv northeast ethiopia |
| title | Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Serological Evidence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Among Waste Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeastern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | serological evidence and associated factors of hepatitis b virus and hepatitis c virus among waste handlers a cross sectional study from northeastern ethiopia |
| topic | waste handlers hbv hcv northeast ethiopia |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/serological-evidence-and-associated-factors-of-hepatitis-b-virus-and-h-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR |
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