ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of infection with Human T cell lymphotrophic (leukemia) virus-1 (HTLV-1), Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in patients attending the antenatal and gynaecological outpatient clinics at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). DESIGN: Prospective observational survey. Serum from each of the 517 participants was analysed for infection with Hepatitis B surface antigen with a latex agglutination test kit (Biotech Laboratories Ltd., Suffolk, United Kingdom), and tested for antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C virus, and Human T cell lymphotrophic (leukemia) virus-1 (HTLV-1) with SERODIA passive-particle agglutination assay kits (FUJIREDIO Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The results were compared with reports from other institutions. SETTINGS: The Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient clinics of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. The virology Unit of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Accra, Ghana. RESULTS: The prevalence of infection with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 16.8%, Hepatitis C antibody 5.2% and HTLV-1 2.7%. Twelve (6%) out of 199 participants who gave informed consent tested positive for HIV antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The study has demonstrated a high transmissible risk of HBV, HIV, HTLV-1, and HCV in Ghana and the necessity for antenatal screening for HBsAg to identify babies at risk of neonatal hepatitis B infection for appropriate intervention.
Subject(s)
HTLV-I Infections/epidemiology , Maternal Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral/epidemiology , Women's Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Comorbidity , Female , Ghana/epidemiology , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HTLV-I Infections/blood , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Humans , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral/blood , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the District Health Management Team (DHMT); which is the Government agency in charge of the implementation of health programmes in the metropolis; have been concerned about poor sanitary conditions in the metropolis. The metropolis has a host of health facilities including a teaching hospital; five urban health centres and over 100 private health facilities. But poor sanitary conditions have led to a very high morbidity and risk of epidemics. Diarrhoeal diseases remain the second commonest disease reported in all the health institutions. There is a daily influx of about 200;000 people into the metropolis and this had led to the flourishing of the cooked food business in the metropolis. Most of the food sellers prepare their food under unhygienic conditions. In-spite of the health education given by the KMA and DHMT on food hygiene and food hygiene practices; the education seemed not to have had any impact on hygiene practice. This has necessitated the study to determine the factors leading to the low practices on food hygiene among chop bar keepers in the metropolis