Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a parenterally transmitted virus that poses an
occupational hazard to the health care workers (HCWs). This was a descriptive
cross sectional study designed to detect HCV among health care workers in Ad
Douiem locality. This study involved Ninety two (n=92) healthcare workers
(Nurses 33, laboratory specialists 22, laboratory assistants 18, laboratory attendant
16, and pharmacists 3). The participants consisted of 47/92 males (51.1%) and
45/92 females (48.9%), 24/92(26.1%) subjects had accidental injury during work
while 68/92 (73.9%) subjects never get accidental injury during work. Blood
samples were collected from each subject and the serum was separated in plain
containers, and then the serum samples were screened by ELISA for the presence
of anti-HCV antibodies. None of the Health care workers were positive for HCV
antibodies. In conclusion hepatitis C virus was not detected among Health care
workers in Ad Douiem Locality. Further study with larger sample size is required
to confirm these results.
