Risk factors for bloodborne viral hepatitis in healthcare workers of Pakistan: a population based case-control study

Factors associated with occupational and non-occupational viral hepatitis infections in Brazil between 2007-2014

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Viral hepatitis is an endemic and epidemic disease of relevance in public health. This study estimated the frequency of viral hepatitis by occupational and non-occupational infections and analyzed the factors associated with case notifications in Brazil from 2007 to 2014.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was an exploratory epidemiological study using the Notifiable Diseases Information System database. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The frequency of viral hepatitis by occupational infections was 0.7%, of which 1.3% were due to hepatitis A virus (HAV), 45.1% hepatitis B virus (HBV), and 45.3% hepatitis C virus (HCV). There was a significant association of the disease with female sex [AOR=1.31; P=0.048], schooling [AOR=1.71; P<0.001], occupation [AOR=2.74; P<0.001], previous contact with an HBV or HCV-infected patient [AOR=5.77; P<0.001], exposure to accidents with biological materials [AOR=99.82; P<0.001], and hepatitis B vaccination [AOR=0.73; P=0.033].

CONCLUSION

While there was a low frequency of viral hepatitis by occupational infections in Brazil from 2007 to 2014, these findings might be underreported and have been associated with individual and occupational characteristics. This reinforces the need for the adoption of prevention strategies in the workplace and for completeness of case notifications.

Factors influencing the adherence of nurses to standard precautions in South Korea hospital settings

Background

Standard precautions (SPs) serve as the first line of defense against exposure to blood and body fluids. The objective of this study was to explore the adherence of nurses to SPs and to identify factors influencing adherence to SPs.

Methods

This study was an exploratory cross-sectional survey. A total of 339 nurses from 9 general hospitals and 3 tertiary hospitals located in 3 South Korean cities were selected. Hierarchical regression was used to examine the effects of sociodemographic, individual, and institutional factors.

Results

A higher, or positive, attitude was the strongest influencing factor in adherence to SPs in the final model, followed by administrative support, hospital types, and safety climate, in descending order. These 4 variables accounted for 26.0% of the variance in adherence to SPs.

Conclusions

The attitudes of nurses toward SPs is important for increasing the adherence to SP best practices. The adherence of nurses to SPs will improve if safe environments are created in different hospital types and if managerial support and administrative efforts are supportive and sustained.

Risk factors for viral hepatitis C infection in Rwanda: results from a nationwide screening program

BACKGROUND

The epidemiology and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Rwanda are not well known; however, this information is crucial to shaping the country's public health approach to hepatitis C control.

METHODS

A HCV screening campaign was conducted in the general population in 24 districts previously identified to have a high HCV disease burden. At the time of sample collection, sociodemographic information and self-reported risk factors were collected. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to assess risk factors independently associated with hepatitis C antibodies (HCVAb) seroprevalence.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 326,263 individuals screened for HCVAb, 22,183 (6.8%) were positive. In multivariate analysis, risk factors identified as statistically associated with HCVAb Seroprevalence include history of traditional operation or scarification (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.14), presence of viral hepatitis in the family (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.15-1.40), widowed or separated/divorced (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.26-1.47), Southern province (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.88-2.08) and aged 65 years and older (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 4.62-5.11). Ubudehe category 3 (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.93-1.01) and participants using RAMA (Health insurances for employees of public and private sectors) insurance (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.70-0.85) had lower odds of HCV seroprevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide important information for Rwanda's strategy on prevention and case-finding. Future prevention interventions should aim to reduce transmission through targeted messaging around traditional healing practices and case-finding targeting individuals with a history of exposure or advanced age.

Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and its associated factors in Rwanda

Background

The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population in Rwanda is not well known. This study examined the prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and associated risk factors among people aged 25 years and over in an organized national screening campaign.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using data from a nationwide HBV screening campaign organized by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre from March to October 2018. This campaign targeted individuals aged > 25 years old from 24 of 30 districts of Rwanda. Sensitization was done through multimedia announcements, community health workers and local church leaders. During the campaign, a structured interview was administered by trained healthcare workers to collect information on socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of participants; HBV screening was performed with HBsAg using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) testing. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with HBsAg positivity in the screened participants.

Results

A total of 327,360 individuals were screened during the campaign. Overall 12,865(3.9%) were HBsAg positive. The highest prevalence (4.2%) was found in the 35–44-year-old group, but the difference from other groups was not significant (Odds Ratio [OR = 1.057, 95% Confidence Interval(CI) (0.904–1.235)]. Being male [OR = 1.348, 95% CI (1.30,1.40)]; being single [OR = 1.092, 95% CI (1.10–1.16)] compared to married; a previous positive TB screening test [OR = 2.352, 95% CI (1.63–3.39)]; history of surgical operation [OR = 1.082, 95% CI (1.00,1.17)]; exposure to traditional operational practices and scarification [OR = 1.187, 95% CI (1.13, 1.24)]; and having a person in the family with viral hepatitis [OR = 1.367, 95% CI (1.21, 1.53)] were significantly associated with HBV infection.

Conclusions

These data provide the first national estimate of the prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity and its associated factors in Rwanda. The study identified people with the highest risk of HBV infection who should be the priority of future prevention efforts in Rwanda and in similar settings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-4013-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Social representations of biosecurity in nursing: occupational health and preventive care

Objective:

to understand the biosecurity social representations by primary care nursing professionals and analyze how they articulate with quality of care.

Methods:

exploratory and qualitative research based on social representation theory. The study participants were 36 nursing workers from primary health care in a state capital in the Northeast region of Brazil. The data were analyzed by descending hierarchical classification.

Results:

five classes were obtained: occupational accidents suffered by professionals; occupational exposure to biological agents; biosecurity management in primary health care; the importance of personal protective equipment; and infection control and biosecurity.

Conclusion:

the different positions taken by the professionals seem to be based on a field of social representations related to the concept of biosecurity, namely exposure to accidents and risks to which they are exposed. However, occupational accidents are reported as inherent to the practice.

Viral Hepatitis in Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future

Viral hepatitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a rising cause for concern in Asian countries. Weather it is blood borne or water/food borne hepatotropic virus, increasing burden is alarming for Asian countries. In this review we have evaluated the existing data to estimate the burden of viral hepatitis in populations of all age groups nationwide, along with an assessment of the risk factors and preventive and management strategies currently employed in Pakistan. The aim of our work is to consolidate and supplement the present knowledge regarding viral hepatitis in light of past and present trends and to provide future direction to the existing health policies.

How to cite this article

Butt AS, Sharif F. Viral Hepatitis in Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):70-81.

Influencing factors on use of standard precautions against occupational exposures to blood and body fluids among nurses in China

AIMS

To investigate how specific factors, including knowledge, attitude, use of protective devices, safety climate, workload, and nurses' behaviors can influence standard precautions in China through structural equation modeling techniques.

BACKGROUND

Although a number of empirical studies have been conducted, an investigation of how multiple variables influence behaviors of standard precautions among the nurses is still needed.

METHODS

The study was conducted by selecting registered nurses from 25 public hospitals that operate approximately 500 beds located in different areas of Guizhou Province in China. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1000 nurses, and 964 (96.4%) completed questionnaires were returned. exploratory factor analysis was employed to examine associations of attitudes, protective devices, safety climate, workload, and nurses' behaviors with standard precautions. The identified factors were integrated in the proposed structural equation model.

FINDINGS

Protective devices had a positive and major influence on nurses' use of standard precautions. Knowledge had a positive impact on the use of standard precautions through attitude mediation, and the safety climate had a positive impact on the use of standard precautions. In contrast, increasing workload had a negative effect on the use of standard precautions. The factors affecting the use of standard precautions among nurses in order of decreasing effect size were: protective devices, knowledge, attitude, safety climate, and workload.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offer valuable information for healthcare management regarding the use of standard precautions to reduce occupational exposure among nurses.