Blood and virus detection on barber clippers

Background. Bleeding from the popular clean-shave 'chiskop' haircut was recently reported as prevalent in South Africa (SA), a country with 6.9 million HIV-infected people.Objectives. To investigate the prevalence of barber hair clipper contamination with blood and HIV and hepatitis B viruses.Methods. Fifty barbers from three townships in Cape Town, SA, were invited to participate. One clipper from each barber was collected immediately after it had been used for a clean-shave haircut. Each clipper was rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline and then submerged in viral medium. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the blood-specific RNA marker haemoglobin beta (HBB), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV.Results. The clean-shave haircut was the most common haircut requested by clients (78%). Of the clippers collected, 42% were positive for HBB, confirming detection of blood, none were positive for HIV, and 4 (8%) were positive for HBV. Two clippers (clippers 16 and 20) were positive on qualitative HBV PCR. HBV DNA from clipper 16 clustered with genotype A sequences from SA, India, Brazil and Martinique, while clipper 20 clustered with SA genotype D sequences. The clipper 20 sequence was identical to a subtype D sequence (GenBank accession AY233291) from Gauteng, SA.Conclusions. This study confirms that there is significant contamination of barber hair clippers with blood and blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis B was detected with enough DNA copies to pose a risk of transmitting infection. Although HIV was not detected in this small study, the risk of transmission should be quantified. Further studies to investigate barber clipper sterilisation practices and whether the clean-shave hairstyle is an independent risk factor for HIV, HBV and hepatitis C virus infections are warranted. Public education on individual clipper ownership (as is the case with a toothbrush) should be advocated for clean-shave and blade-fade haircuts

Occupational health problems and work practices of hairdressers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

There are several million hairdressers worldwide who are chronically exposed to various chemicals used in hairdressing business. This study aimed at determining the occupational health problems and work practices of hairdressers in Uyo, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in March 2017.The study participants consisted of all consenting hairdressers in Uyo metropolis, Nigeria who had been working for at least 6 months prior to the study. Data obtained was analyzed using STATA 12.1 software. Level of significance was set at 5%. A total of 429 hairdressers participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 28.5 �7.5 years. Majority, (88.3%) were females and 63.9% were single. Ninety percent had at least secondary education, while 47.6% had worked for > 3years. Health problems reported included back pain 61.5%, tiredness 57.1%, Itching/ redness of hands 43.1%, eye itching 26.1%, catarrh 22.8% and hearing difficulty 17.7%. Injuries included needle pricks 59.0% and cuts 46.9%. Standing for > 8 hours was reported by 33% of respondents. Use of any personal protective equipment (PPE) was 67.6%. The most commonly used was glove 42.7%. Awareness about PPE increased with respondent's level of education (p<0.05).Hand lesions were significantly less among those who used gloves as 95.6% had no chemical burns and rashes, 95.1% experienced no dryness and 63.4% had no itching/redness (p<0.05). The respondents reported several health problems. Work practices included poor use of PPE and prolonged standing. Regular workplace safety training, shift duty and use of ergonomically suitable chairs are advocated for hairdressers

Connaissance sur les IST/VIH Sida et comportement à risques chez les coiffeuses du grand secteur Yopougon-Koute (Abidjan-République de Cote d'Ivoire)

"Une étude portant sur les ""connaissances des IST/VIH-SIDA et comportements a risques des coiffeuses"" a été réalisée dans le grand secteur de Koute de la commune de Yopougon pendant un mois et demi (27 mai au 15 juillet 2005).Des investigations menees aupres de 366 coiffeuses des 103 salons de coiffure visites; il ressort que Les coiffeuses de Yopougon-Koute sont des jeunes femmes (91;5 pour cent ont moins de 30 ans); celibataires (83;6 pour cent); d'un bas niveau d'instruction (59;3 pour cent de niveau primaire); dont pres de la moitie (42;9 pour cent) dépendaient financièrement de leur famille. Bien qu'ayant toutes entendu parler du SIDA et des IST; surtout par les medias (99;7 pour cent); et seulement 23;2pour cent grace un personnel de sante; 1er coiffeuses avaient un faible niveau de connaissance sur les IST. La majorité d'entre elles n'avait aucune notion des IST (symptomes; consequences; liens entre IST et le SIDA).Dans l'ensemble; elles avaient un assez bon niveau de connaissance sur le SIDA.Avec ces connaissances approximatives; les coiffeuses qui etaient exposees aux lST et au VIH/SIDA; avaient des pratiques sexuelles ou non sexuelles a hauts risques. Ainsi; on note:*une precocite de l'age du premier rapport sexuel (9 pour cent les avaient eu avant l'age de 15 ans);*5;2 pour cent avaient eu de multiples partenaires sexuels réguliers;*29;8 pour cent avaient eu au moins un partenaire occasionnel les 12 derniers mois; -*59 pour cent avaient eu des rapports sexuels non proteges durant les 12 derniers mois;*13;7 pour cent avaient déjà eu recours a une interruption volontaire de grossesse;*19;1 pour cent avaient eu des rapports sexuels sous l'effet de l'alcool;*76 pour cent avaient deja ete blessees par un objet piquant ou coupant au travail;*32;20 pour cent avaient mentionné avoir été en contact cutané avec le sang d'une cliente;*Plus de la moitié des coiffeuses avait déjà eu une IST;*21;3pour cent étaient informées que les partenaires avaient d'autres coépouses;*41;8 pour cent n'etaient pas pretes a faire le test de depistage du VIH-SIDA. Certains de ces comportements ont ete motives par:-l'argent dans 29;56pour cent des cas e les disputes dans 53;91pour cent des cas pour les rapports sexuels occasionnels-la confiance en leur partenaire (52;2 pour cent) et la contrainte (14;8 pour cent) ont été les raisons pour justifier les rapports sexuels non proteges;-35;1 pour cent des coiffeuses disaient n'avoir pas change leurs comportements malgré les informations reçues sur le VIH-SIDA et les IST.Comment améliorer les connaissances des coiffeuses afin de mieux les préserver des comportements a risque les exposant aux IST et au VIH-SIDA?Les campagnes de sensibilisation de proximité (porte a porte) auprès des coiffeuses et une amelioration de leurs niveaux de vie et d'instruction seraient très salutaires."