title: HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in garbage scavengers of Karachi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, and to study the associated risk factors in garbage scavengers of Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was performed in a colony inhabited by low socioeconomic garbage-collecting people. Data was collected from April to December 2011. After informed consent and pre-test counselling, a set of questions were asked from a questionnaire, and 5cc of blood was drawn for pathological testing. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 141 males agreed to participate in the study with a mean age of 21.33+/-9.28 years. Most of the respondents (n=67; 47.5%) were in the age group 11-20 years; 86 (61%) were single; 89 (63%) were illiterate and 127 (90%) had a monthly income less than Rs.10,000. Prevalence of hepatitis B was 18.8% (n=22), followed by 8.5% (n=10) and 0.85% (n=1) of hepatitis C and HIV respectively. Besides, 108 (77%) collected needles/syringes and 76 (54%) got pricked more than once. Only 23 (16%) wore gloves while collecting garbage. Overall, 79 (56%) had a history of sexual contact; 18 (23%) had three or more partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The important factors contributing to the high prevalence of hepatitis B and C were needle prick injuries, bare-handed/bare-footed collection of garbage, poor vaccination status, improper garbage disposal system and the site of waste collection.
authors.affiliation: Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. uzair.arauf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mohammad Uzair Abdul
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.forename: Muhammad Danish
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Muhammad Osama
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Anwer
authors.forename: Gulrays
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Muhammad Ashraf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005735:Garbage; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult