Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and immunity status among healthcare workers in Beira City, Mozambique

Abstract

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be prevented by vaccination. Exposure to blood or body fluids poses a high risk of transmission of HBV in health care workers (HCWs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of markers of exposure, susceptibility, and protection to HBV infection in HCWs in Beira, Mozambique. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2020 in Beira City, Mozambique, in HCWs based on self-administered questionnaires and blood samples. Plasma samples were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and HBV viral load (HBV DNA). Results Most of the 315 HCWs in the study were nurses (125; 39.7%). Of the HCWs, 5.1% (16; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.9 to 8.1%) were infected by HBV (HBsAg and/or HBV DNA positive). Occult HBV infection (OBI) (HBV DNA positive and HBsAg negative) was found in 0.3% (1; 95% CI: 0.0 to 1.8%) of participants; 27.9% (88; 95% CI: 23.1 to 33.2%) were susceptible (negative for all markers), 6.3% (20; 95% CI: 3.9 to 9.6) were immune due to natural infection (anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive only), while 60% (189; 95% CI: 54.4 to 65.5) were immune due to vaccination (anti-HBs positive only). Conclusion This study showed a high intermediate prevalence of chronic hepatitis B among healthcare workers in Beira City, Central Mozambique, and one-third of healthcare workers were susceptible to HBV infection. There is a need to implement a national hepatitis B screening and vaccination strategy among healthcare workers in Mozambique.

Hepatitis B virus infection status and associated factors among health care workers in selected hospitals in Kisumu County, Kenya: A cross-sectional study

“…The carders with high immunization rates were laboratory technologists 74.6%, clinical officers 65.5%, and Nursing officers 64.1%. Laboratory technologists were the highest immunized carder, this concurs with a study in Mozambique where 77% of laboratory technicians were vaccinated [35], the high vaccination rate in this carder may be attributed to the implementation of laboratory quality management system and international organization for standardization ISO 15189 which required that all laboratory personnel to be vaccinated against blood borne pathogens [36]. The low HBV immunity rate and non-completion of vaccine doses is comparable to prior studies showing low HBV vaccine uptake and non-completion of vaccine dosses [5,11,29].…”

“…Of the 192 HCWs sampled, 52.1% were males and 78.7% are married, the median participants age was 34.4 years with interquartile range (IQR) of 11 (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39) years. Most participants (44%) had worked for between 1-5 years.…”

Seroprevalence and Knowledge of Hepatitis B and C among Healthcare workers in three healthcare centers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

“…A higher number of females HCWs enrolled for the study than the male HCWs. A similar study showed more female healthcare workers than male HCWs enrolled for a similar study in Mozambique [13].…”