ABSTRACT
A study in Egypt determined the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among barbers (n = 308) and their clients (n = 308) in Gharbia governorate, and assessed knowledge, attitude and practices during hair-cutting and shaving. HBsAg was detected among 4.2% of barbers and 3.9% of clients (more urban than rural). Anti-HC antibodies were detected in 12.3% of barbers and 12.7% of clients. HCV-RNA prevalence was 9.1% among both barbers and clients (more rural than urban). Knowledge was high among the majority of participants and good practices during shaving and hair-cutting were observed for the majority of barbers. Barbers appeared to have no job-related risk of acquiring viral hepatitis.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Barbering , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Adult , Barbering/education , Barbering/methods , Barbering/statistics & numerical data , Chi-Square Distribution , Disinfection , Egypt/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/complications , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis C/complications , Hepatitis C/immunology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Humans , Infection Control , Male , Occupational Diseases/blood , Occupational Diseases/complications , Occupational Diseases/immunology , Risk Factors , Rural Health/statistics & numerical data , Safety , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Health/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
A study in Egypt determined the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among barbers [n = 308] and their clients [n = 308] in Gharbia governorate, and assessed knowledge, attitude and practices during hair-cutting and shaving. HBsAg was detected among 4.2% of barbers and 3.9% of clients [more urban than rural]. Anti-HC antibodies were detected in 12.3% of barbers and 12.7% of clients. HCV-RNA prevalence was 9.1% among both barbers and clients [more rural than urban]. Knowledge was high among the majority of participants and good practices during shaving and hair-cutting were observed for the majority of barbers. Barbers appeared to have no job-related risk of acquiring viral hepatitis
