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. 2022 Oct 14;17(10):e0276283.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276283. eCollection 2022.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and immunity status among healthcare workers in Beira City, Mozambique

Nédio Mabunda  1 , Lúcia Vieira  2   3 , Imelda Chelene  1 , Cremildo Maueia  1   4   5 , Ana Flora Zicai  1 , Ana Duajá  2 , Falume Chale  2 , Lúcia Chambal  5   6 , Adolfo Vubil  1 , Orvalho Augusto  5   7
Affiliations

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and immunity status among healthcare workers in Beira City, Mozambique

Nédio Mabunda et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be prevented by vaccination. Exposure to blood or body fluids poses a high risk of transmission of HBV in health care workers (HCWs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of markers of exposure, susceptibility, and protection to HBV infection in HCWs in Beira, Mozambique.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2020 in Beira City, Mozambique, in HCWs based on self-administered questionnaires and blood samples. Plasma samples were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and HBV viral load (HBV DNA).

Results: Most of the 315 HCWs in the study were nurses (125; 39.7%). Of the HCWs, 5.1% (16; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.9 to 8.1%) were infected by HBV (HBsAg and/or HBV DNA positive). Occult HBV infection (OBI) (HBV DNA positive and HBsAg negative) was found in 0.3% (1; 95% CI: 0.0 to 1.8%) of participants; 27.9% (88; 95% CI: 23.1 to 33.2%) were susceptible (negative for all markers), 6.3% (20; 95% CI: 3.9 to 9.6) were immune due to natural infection (anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive only), while 60% (189; 95% CI: 54.4 to 65.5) were immune due to vaccination (anti-HBs positive only).

Conclusion: This study showed a high intermediate prevalence of chronic hepatitis B among healthcare workers in Beira City, Central Mozambique, and one-third of healthcare workers were susceptible to HBV infection. There is a need to implement a national hepatitis B screening and vaccination strategy among healthcare workers in Mozambique.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Prevalence of hepatitis B infection and immunity against HBV among healthcare workers.
*Other providers with non-university degrees, including dental and oral care, eye care, preventive medicine, instrumentalists, anaesthesiology technicians, ophthalmology technicians, and imageology technicians.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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