Prevalence of Hepatitis B infection among healthcare workers in Nigeria: A systematic review.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious disease of global significance, causing a significant health burden. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are more exposed to HBV infection. The objective of this study was to systematically review all published evidence on the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among HCWs. and synthesize evidence on the predictors of HBV infection and association between some selected characteristics during the period of 2010 to 2023.

Methods: In this study, 14 fully published research articles retrieved from databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, African Journal Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar were examined to investigate HBV seroprevalence between January 01, 2010, and June 30, 2023. HBV infection was defined based on a positive test for HBsAg. A descriptive analysis was performed on categorical variables using frequencies and percentages to compare the prevalence of hepatitis B infection among healthcare workers, employing the Chi-square test. Additionally, the association between various factors and hepatitis B infection was assessed using univariate logistic regression, estimating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: A total of 94 articles were identified and after screening and assessment, 14 studies with a combined sample size of 6,541 HCWs were included in the final analysis. The pooled prevalence of HBsAg among HCWs was found to be 4.43%. The North-West region of the country had the highest pooled prevalence at 21.13%, while Internship staff had the highest prevalence estimate of 21.48% among different work types. The most used HBV detection method was the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in 57% of the studies, followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 36% of the studies. Several risk factors were found to be significantly associated with HBV infection among HCWs, including a history of blood transfusion, male gender, shorter work experience, and poor knowledge about HBV.

Conclusion: This systematic review provides valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection among HCWs in Nigeria. The findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted interventions and preventive measures to reduce the burden of HBV infection in this high-risk population.