HBV Transmission Risk Assessment in Healthcare Workers, Household and Sexual Contacts of HBV Infected Patients in the Southwest Region of Cameroon

Kukwah Anthony Tufon; Henry Dilonga Meriki; Tebit Emmanuel Kwenti; Nyeke James Tony; Ekeme Malika; Ayah Flora Bolimo; Youmbi Sylvain Kouanou; Theresa Nkuo-Akenji; Damian Nota Anong

doi:10.5001/omj.2019.62

HBV Transmission Risk Assessment in Healthcare Workers, Household and Sexual Contacts of HBV Infected Patients in the Southwest Region of Cameroon

Oman Med J. 2019 Jul;34(4):313-321. doi: 10.5001/omj.2019.62.

Authors

Kukwah Anthony Tufon^{1

2}, Henry Dilonga Meriki^{1

2

3}, Tebit Emmanuel Kwenti^{1

2

3

4}, Nyeke James Tony^{1

2}, Ekeme Malika^{2

3}, Ayah Flora Bolimo^{1

2}, Youmbi Sylvain Kouanou¹, Theresa Nkuo-Akenji⁵, Damian Nota Anong⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
² Diagnostic Laboratory, Buea Regional Hospital, Buea, Cameroon.
³ Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵ Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.

Abstract

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is known to be highly transmissible via the body fluids of an infected person. We investigated the transmission risks, awareness, and prevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs), household contacts (HHCs), and sexual partners (SPs) of HBV infected individuals.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of HCWs, HBV infected individuals as well as their corresponding HHCs and SPs. Data related to some transmission risks and HBV awareness was obtained from each participant using a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from each participant and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e-antigen, and anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc). HBV viral load measurement was done for the HBV infected participants.

Results: A total of 596 participants were enrolled (127 HCWs, 128 HHCs, 138 SPs, and 203 HBV infected participants). HHCs (odds ratio (OR): 3.85, confidence interval (CI): 1.89-7.81), and SPs (OR: 3.04, CI: 1.51-6.17) were more associated with HBsAg/anti-HBc positivity compared to HCWs. Age, years spent with HBV infected partner, unprotected sex, and marriage were not identified as risk factors for HBV sexual transmission but cohabiting with an HBV infected SP was significantly (p = 0.005) associated with transmission (OR: 3.56, CI: 1.46-8.72). Female HHCs (OR: 2.48, CI: 1.06-5.80) and SPs (OR: 2.64, CI: 0.95-7.30) were more associated with HBsAg/anti-HBc positivity. The mean viral load (log IU) of HBV infected individuals (3.9±2.0) with HBsAg positive SPs was significantly higher than that of HBV infected individuals (2.8±1.0) with HBsAg negative SPs (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: HHCs and SPs of HBV infected patients are more associated with HBV infection compared to HCWs. Horizontal transmission can as well be implicated among SPs since unprotected sex was not identified as a risk factor for transmission, but cohabitation was. Prompt management and preventive measures could be implemented if HHCs and SPs of HBV infected patients are identified, sensitized, and screened.

Keywords: Healthcare Worker-Patient Transmission; Hepatitis B Virus Infection; Infection Transmission, Horizontal; Risk Factors.