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86154

Hepatitis C Infection among Health Care Workers in Aswan: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) wherever they work are at high risk of trapping infectious blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis C virus (HCV). Epidemiological studies are needed to focus on HCWs' work profiles which represent the major threat to their health.
Objective(s): To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of HCV seropositivity among HCWs in Aswan University Hospital, Aswan city, Egypt.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during the year 2018 on 206 HCWs selected randomly by proportionate allocation. Data were collected through direct interviews and blood samples were obtained for the detection of HCV antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test.
Results: Out of 206 screened HCWs, 14 of them were positive HCV-Ab giving a prevalence of  6.8%. Cleaning workers had the highest proportion of HCV seropositivity. The significant predictors of HCV-Ab seropositive test were infrequent hand washing after blood or body fluid exposure (OR= 5.12), inconsistent use of personal protective equipment (OR= 4.94), prolonged work duration (OR= 3.93), and having a family history of HCV infection (OR= 3.50­­). 
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV among HCWs is alarmingly high. In view of our results, adherence to hand-hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment and regular screening for HCWs should be strongly emphasized.

DOI

10.21608/jhiph.2020.86154

Keywords

Hepatitis C virus, seroprevalence, health care workers, Occupational Exposure

Authors

First Name

Shaimaa

Last Name

Abdelrheem

MiddleName

S.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Egypt

Email

dr_shimaasayed@yahoo.com

City

Aswan

Orcid

0000-0002-2688-4372

First Name

Yosra

Last Name

Saleh

MiddleName

Y.

Affiliation

Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Egypt

Email

yooos.yooousry@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hebat-Allah

Last Name

Abdelatif

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Egypt

Email

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City

-

Orcid

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First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Elbadry

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Egypt

Email

melbadryy2002@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

50

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

12929

Issue Date

2020-04-01

Receive Date

2020-04-30

Publish Date

2020-04-01

Page Start

58

Page End

64

Print ISSN

2357-0601

Online ISSN

2357-061X

Link

https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/article_86154.html

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https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=86154

Order

9

Type

Original Article

Type Code

511

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of High Institute of Public Health

Publication Link

https://jhiphalexu.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023