Knowledge and practice of pregnant women and health care workers on hepatitis B prevention in the Limbe and Muyuka health districts of the south west region of Cameroon

Introduction: hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide owing to its high prevalence and significant morbidity and mortality. There are about 2 billion people living with HBV worldwide and over 360 million chronic carriers. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of pregnant women and health care workers in the ANC and maternity units on HBV infection and its transmission.Methods: about 270 women attending ANC and 31 health care workers were selected by convenience sampling. They were evaluated using a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge and practices on HBV prevention and transmission. Results: pregnant women in the Limbe Health District demonstrated good knowledge but adopted poor practices whereas in the Muyuka Health District, pregnant women demonstrated poor knowledge and adopted poor practices regarding the mode of transmission and prevention of HBV infection. Health care workers in both the Limbe and Muyuka Health Districts however, demonstrated good knowledge and adopted good practices.Conclusion: there was a significant relationship between the knowledge and practice of pregnant women and health care workers on Hepatitis B prevention in the Muyuka Health District (P = 0.0006)

Knowledge and attitude of community health officers towards hepatitis B virus infection in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B infection is endemic in Nigeria and healthcare workers are at high risk of the infection. The aim of the study therefore, was to determine the knowledge and attitude of community health officers concerning hepatitis B virus infection. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 95 community health officers in Rivers State. The study tool was a self-completed questionnaire. Consenting health officer were administered the questionnaire which evaluated respondents' general knowledge about hepatitis B infection, its prevention and vaccination status. Data analysis was done with SPSS v20.Results: A total of 95 respondents participated in the study, comprising 16 (16.8%) males and 79 (83.2%) females. All the participants were aware of the HBV infection and majority 96.8% knew HBV affects the liver and 78.9% that jaundice is a feature of the infection. Most of the participants 90.5% knew HBV can be transmitted through blood and body fluids. Almost all (98.9%) the respondents knew that HBV is preventable. Most of the respondents (86.3%) associated their job with the risk of the infection and only 13.7% had not received the vaccination.Conclusion: The CHOs demonstrated adequate knowledge about HBV infection but their response to its vaccination was not absolute. The primary healthcare workers as well as other healthcare personnel should be encouraged to receive the complete dose of HBV vaccine to reduce the likelihood of transmission of the infection in healthcare settings

Impact of HIV Co-Infection on Hepatitis B Prevention and Control: a View from Sub-Saharan Africa

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are both endemic in sub-Saharan Africa; warranting high priority efforts in prevention and control. In developed countries; both viruses are transmitted more or less at the same time; and primarily in teenagers and adults. Because the two viruses share major risk factors; a number of HIV-infected individuals will either have past exposure to; or be chronic carriers of HBV. In contrast; HBV is predominantly transmitted in childhood in sub-Saharan Africa; and the majority of inhabitants are already exposed to; or are chronic carriers of HBV by the time they become exposed to HIV for the first time. Nevertheless; there is frequent detection of HBV in HIV-infected individuals (and vice versa) in the region because both viruses are highly endemic. Although there is a limited number of data on the interaction of HIV and HBV in coinfected persons in the sub-Saharan region; reports from around the world have convincingly demonstrated that HIV co-infection can have a negative impact on the transmission; natural history; prevention and control; and treatment of HBV. The impact of HIV co-infection on HBV prevention and control includes; but is not limited to: increased prevalence of HBV in HIV-infected persons; increased HBV infectivity and transmission; accelerated need for HBV therapy due to rapid progression to active chronic hepatitis B; limitation in the choice of drugs (where possible; drugs causing cross-reactivity are avoided in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens until there is a need to treat both viral infections); particularly in the phase of expanding HAART programmes in the region; the need to perform HBV DNA testing in HBsAg-negative sera due to frequent detection of occult hepatitis B in HIV-co-infected persons; and finally; the need for administering additional hepatitis B vaccine doses and ascertaining levels of protective anti-HBs (antibodies against HBsAg) following hepatitis B vaccination