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SERO-PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF BLOOD-BORNE VIRAL INFECTION AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS OF A TERTIARY REFERRAL HOSPITAL: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE
1
College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq
2
Department of Surgery, Azadi Teaching Hospital, Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq
3
Infection control Department, Duhok General Directorate of Health, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq
4
Community and Maternity Health Nursing Unit, College of Nursing, University of Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq
Submission date: 2023-07-06
Final revision date: 2023-08-31
Acceptance date: 2023-09-01
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Health Prob Civil. 2023;17(4):328-338
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are often exposed to contaminated blood and body fluids from infected patients. There is no study on blood-borne infection in Iraqi Kurdistan; therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of blood-borne infections of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their associated risk factors among HCWs in the hospital.
Material and methods:
This cross-sectional study included 800 HCWs from a major tertiary teaching hospital, who were selected using a non-random technique.
Results:
The mean age of the HCWs was 35.15 years (range: 18-70 years), consisting of males (56.0%) and females (44.0%) from various specialties and different departments. The seroprevalence of HBV was 0.75% (n=6) among HCWs. However, the seroprevalence of HBV was not significantly different among HCWs with different characteristics. Only one HCW had a positive result for HCV (0.13%), while no HCWs were found to have HIV. The study showed that 34.63% had experienced needlestick injuries, and 64.88% had received the HBV vaccination. Additionally, 27.20% were smokers, and 1.42% were alcohol consumers. Other characteristics included previous hospitalization (17.28%), a history of blood transfusion (6.23%), a history of surgical operations (27.48%), and a history of dental interventions (86.69%).
Conclusions:
The study revealed a low seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among HCWs in this study. No active HIV infection and almost none of them had contact with HCV.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are often exposed to contaminated blood and body fluids from infected patients. There is no study on blood-borne infection in Iraqi Kurdistan; therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of blood-borne infections of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their associated risk factors among HCWs in the hospital.
Material and methods:
This cross-sectional study included 800 HCWs from a major tertiary teaching hospital, who were selected using a non-random technique.
Results:
The mean age of the HCWs was 35.15 years (range: 18-70 years), consisting of males (56.0%) and females (44.0%) from various specialties and different departments. The seroprevalence of HBV was 0.75% (n=6) among HCWs. However, the seroprevalence of HBV was not significantly different among HCWs with different characteristics. Only one HCW had a positive result for HCV (0.13%), while no HCWs were found to have HIV. The study showed that 34.63% had experienced needlestick injuries, and 64.88% had received the HBV vaccination. Additionally, 27.20% were smokers, and 1.42% were alcohol consumers. Other characteristics included previous hospitalization (17.28%), a history of blood transfusion (6.23%), a history of surgical operations (27.48%), and a history of dental interventions (86.69%).
Conclusions:
The study revealed a low seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among HCWs in this study. No active HIV infection and almost none of them had contact with HCV.
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