Abstract:
Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to viral infections and there are groups of viruses that affect the liver of which hepatitis B and C viruses are the causative agents of sever form of liver disease with high rate of mortality. Laboratory waste handlers who undergo collection, transportation, and disposal of laboratory wastes in the National laboratory for public health are at risk of exposure to acquire those infections which transmit mainly as a result of contaminated blood and other body fluids including injury with sharp instruments, splash to the eye or mucous membrane. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and/or C viruses and associated liver function tests among laboratory waste handlers.
This is a cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2015, in national laboratory for public health, among 50 workers after acquiring ethical clearance and informed consent data were collected by using pre-tested and well structured check list. Venous bloods were collected and the serums were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody using Enzyme Linked Immuno sorbent Assay technique (ELISA) and automated machine (Hitachi) for measuring liver function tests. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS software package (version19).
The statistical analysis showed that: The 50 non vaccinated workers, an adequate awareness about type of waste among the group 48%,during work only 62%were wearing protective cloth and 84% were wearing gloves while handling laboratory waste, just about 24% had segregate the waste ,and 18% used sharp container while handling sharpening. Only 8% had got pricked accidentally by handle needle. Only one worker (2%) had infected with HBV during last ten years, and no one had infected with HCV. When measuring LFT (total bilirubin, total protein,
V
albumin, alkaline phosphates, aspartate aminotransferase, and Alanine aminotransferase) for those workers, we found a significant decrease in total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphates, aspartate aminotransferase. P. value prospectively (0.007, 0.000, 0.0003, 0.000, 0.026) and insignificant decrease for Alanine aminotransferas. P. value (0.435).
Overall, an inadequate awareness and a few risk perceptions about HBI were found among the study group with significant impairment in liver function test.
