Prevalence of Anti-HBcore Total and HBsAg among Health Care Workers in Public Hospitals, White Nile State, Sudan; 2013
Mawahib Ahmed Elawad Abu Elgasim *
Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Khartoum State, Sudan.
Taha Ahmed Elmukashfi
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Asma Abdelaal Abdalla
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Siham Ahmed Balla
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Zeinab Swareldahab
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Abdelgadir Ali Bashir
Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Khartoum State, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: HBV infection is an occupational disease where health care workers (HCW) are at high risk.
Aim: To measure the sero-prevalence of Anti-HBcore Total and HBsAg among HCWs in Public Hospitals, White Nile State, Sudan; 2013.
Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital- based study was conducted among health care workers in Public Hospitals in White Nile State, Sudan; 2013. A sample of 385 HCWs was selected using two stage cluster sampling. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used. The HCWs signed the informed consent to fill the questionnaire and to draw 5 ml venous blood sample for HBV tests. Blood samples were investigated for Anti-HBcore Total. Positive blood specimens for Anti-HBcore Total were further investigated for HBsAg. Data was processed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 16. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric Z test for single proportion was used at 95% CL.
Results: Out of 385 HCWs, 230 (60%) were positive for Anti-HBcore Total. Out of 230 HCWs, 62 (27%) were positive for HBsAg. Prevalence for Anti-HBcore Total and HBsAg is significantly different from the expected values, P=0.001
Conclusion: Sero-prevalence of Anti-HBcore Total and HBsAg is high among HCWs in Public Hospitals in White Nile State, Sudan.
Keywords: Anti-HBcore total, HBsAg, HCWs, public hospitals, White Nile State, Sudan