Risk factors for hepatitis B among health personnel of the University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem especially in Africa, where their main cause is represented by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Health workers are a group at high risk of HBV infection. The aim of our study was to carry on investigation on professional risk factors related to hepatitis B among health workers of the University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study there from March 9 to April 13, 2012. It concerned the medical, paramedical and frontline health people present at the time of inquiry upon agreement. For risk assessment, a score was attributed to different answers. A total of 285 workers were included in the study. It was mostly men (65.6%), paramedics (84.6%), married subjects (75.4%), with seniority in the hospital exceeding 10 years (73.7%). HBs Ag seroprevalence was 11.2%, and was significantly higher among the staff do not respect the rules of handwashing after each treatment and after projection of human biological products (p<0.5). The average scores of the risk factors was lower than 3. The fight against hepatitis B can go through vaccination but also by enhancing public awareness and emphasis of the training of health workers on the prevention of infections.