Detection of Hepatitis C Virus among Healthcare Workers in Ad Douiem Locality

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.