Exposure to patients' sample and prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infection among health-care workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Hepatitis B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together constitute the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer with attendant mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among different categories of health-care workers, looking at the exposure to patients' samples and the prevalence rate among these categories of health workers. This will help to ascertain the risk and the need to pay more attention to preventive measures. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a 2-year period among 217 health-care workers at the department of Haematology of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Respondents were randomly selected, and blood samples were taken for the hepatitis B and C screening. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20; bivariate analyses were done, and the level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 13 (6.0%) tested positive for HBsAg. Analysis of the marital status of those that tested positive to Hepatitis B, revealed that the highest number (77%) was found among the married, while the singles and the divorced constitute 15.3% and 7.7% respectively. The nurses and nonhealth professionals (admin staff) constitute the highest positive yield of hepatitis B virus (HBV), followed by medical doctors and laboratory staff. The age of the respondent was found to have a statistically significant association with HBV serology (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a comparatively lower prevalence of HBsAg among the health-care workers who are directly exposed to patients' samples. The age of the respondent has a significant association with hepatitis B infection.

Résumé Contexte: L'hépatite B et C conduisent à des maladies chroniques chez des centaines de millions de personnes et constituent ensemble la cause la plus courante de cirrhose du foie et de cancer avec la mortalité des participants. Objectif: L'objectif de cette étude était d'estimer la prévalence de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite B et du C entre différentes catégories de travailleurs de la santé, en examinant l'exposition aux échantillons des patients et le taux de prévalence entre ces catégories d'agents de santé. Cela aidera à déterminer le risque et la nécessité de prêter plus d'attention aux mesures préventives. Matériel et méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale menée sur une période de 2 ans parmi 217 travailleurs de la santé au Département d'hématologie de l'hôpital fédéral universitaire, Ido - Ekiti, au Nigéria. Les répondants ont été sélectionnés au hasard et des échantillons de sang ont été prélevés pour le dépistage de l'hépatite B et du C. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de SPSS 20; Des analyses bivariées ont été effectuées et le niveau de signification statistique a été fixé à p <0,05. Résultats: Un total de 13 (6,0%) ont été testés positifs pour HBSAG. L'analyse de l'état matrimonial de ceux qui se sont testés positifs à l'hépatite B, ont révélé que le nombre le plus élevé (77%) a été trouvé chez les mariés, tandis que les célibataires et les divorcés constituent respectivement 15,3% et 7,7%. Les infirmières et les professionnels de la santé (personnel administratif) constituent le plus élevé Rendement positif du virus de l'hépatite B (HBV), suivi des médecins et du personnel de laboratoire. L'âge du répondant s'est avéré avoir une association statistiquement significative avec la sérologie du VHB (p <0,05). Conclusion: Il existe une prévalence relativement plus faible de HBSAG chez les travailleurs de la santé qui sont directement exposés aux échantillons des patients. L'âge du répondant a une association significative avec l'infection à l'hépatite B. Mots-clés: Exposition, hépatite B et C, prévalence.

Hepatobiliary Ultrasonographic Abnormalities in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Steady State in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is associated with structural manifestations in the hepatobiliary axis. This study aimed to investigate the hepatobiliary ultrasonographic abnormalities in adult patients with sickle cell anaemia in steady state attending the Haematology clinic of a federal tertiary health institution in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. MATERIAL/METHODS: Basic demographic data as well as right upper abdominal quadrant ultrasonography of 50 consecutive sickle cell anaemia patients were compared with those of 50 age- and sex-matched subjects with HbAA as controls. RESULTS: Each of the study groups (patients and controls) comprised of 21 (42%) males and 29 (58%) females. The age range of the patients was 18-45 years with a mean (±SD) of 27.6±7.607 years, while that of the controls was 21-43 years with a mean (±SD) of 28.0±5.079 years (p=0.746). Amongst the patients, 32 (64%) had hepatomegaly, 15 (30%) cholelithiasis and 3 (6%) biliary sludge. Fourteen (28%) of the patients had normal hepatobiliary ultrasound findings. In the control group, one (2%) person had cholelithiasis, one (2%) biliary sludge, one (2%) fatty liver and none hepatomegaly. Forty-seven (94%) of the controls had normal hepatobiliary ultrasound findings. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of hepatomegaly and cholelithiasis between the patients and controls (p value <0.001 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, hepatomegaly, cholelithiasis and biliary sludge were the most common hepatobiliary ultrasound findings in patients with sickle cell anaemia. Ultrasonography is a useful tool for assessing hepatobiliary abnormalities in patients with sickle cell anaemia.

Organ Donation Among Tiers of Health Workers: Expanding Resources to Optimize Organ Availability in a Developing Country.

UNLABELLED: The global increase in end organ failure but disproportional shortage of organ donation calls for attention. Expanding the organ pool by assessing and improving health workers' attitude at all levels of care may be a worthwhile initiative. METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross sectional study involving tertiary, secondary, and primary health institutions in Southwestern Nigeria was conducted. RESULTS: Age range was 18 to 62 (36.7 ± 9.2) years. Only 13.5%, 11.7%, and 11.2% from primary, secondary, and tertiary health centers, respectively, would definitely donate despite high level of awareness (>90%) at each level of care. Participants from primary health care are of low income (P < 0.05), and this cohort is less likely to be aware of organ donation (P < 0.05). At each level of care, permission by religion to donate organs influenced positive attitudes (willingness to donate, readiness to counsel families of potential donors, and signing of organ donation cards) toward organ donation. Good knowledge of organ donation only significantly influenced readiness to counsel donors (P < 0.05) and not willingness to donate (P > 0.05). At each level of health care, young health care workers (P < 0.05) and women (P > 0.05) would be willing to donate, whereas men show positive attitude in signing of organ donor cards (P < 0.05) and counseling of families of potential donors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and willingness to donate organs among health care levels were not different. Considering the potential advantage of community placement of other tiers of health care (primary and secondary) in Nigeria, integrating them would be strategically beneficial to organ donation.