title: Prevalence of hepatitis B infection among hospital personnel in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
abstract: Hepatitis B serological markers (HBsAG, anti-HBc and anti-HBs) were determined in 432 (60%) hospital employees by the Hepanostika microenzyme linked immunoassay method. The overall prevalence rate was 9.02% for HBsAg, 46.25% for anti-HBs, 73.6% for anti-HBc and 76.38% for "at least one marker positive". Marker positivity as well as HBsAg carrier rate is higher for males than for females. (82.0 Vs 69.9%; 11.4 Vs 6.75% respectively). The majority of the infections occur early in life, 75% being positive for "at least one marker" by age twenty. The distribution of markers is somewhat different from previous observations with non-hospital personnel. Departments most exposed to blood and certain job categories seem to be an increased risk of acquiring the infection. We conclude that hospital exposure is associated with an additional risk of hepatitis B infection.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces General Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kefenie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasquini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens