Prevalence of Specific and Non-Specific Markers and Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Virus in Health Science Students and Healthcare Workers in the City of Conakry, Guinea

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, contact with infected blood, and vertically from mother to child. The risk of infection is very high in healthcare settings, especially for under-equipped and less experienced staff. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of specific and non-specific markers and factors associated with hepatitis B among health science students and healthcare personnel in the city of Conakry. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of staff at national hospitals and municipal medical centers, as well as health science students at public and private universities and health schools in the city of Conakry, covering 24 institutions. The data collected included sociodemographic information and 2 ml of blood in a tube without anticoagulant, which was tested for specific and non-specific markers were detected using the chemiluminescence method with the Architect 1000 i SR analyzer (Abbott Industries) and non-specific markers using the URIT 8021A analyzer, which uses a monochromatic light source to measure the absorbance of light passing through a reaction mixture containing the sample and reagents at the immuno-serology laboratory of the National Institute of Health. Statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.4.0. The p-value was calculated to determine the existence of a statistically significant link between the study variables. Results: A total of 3,041 healthcare workers and students participated in the study, of whom 257 were HBsAg carriers (8.5%). All of these HBsAg-positive participants also carried total anti-HBc antibodies, 2.3% were HBeAg carriers, and 1.2% carried anti-HBs antibodies. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B among healthcare workers and health science students, comparable to that of the general population, reveals a striking reality: hepatitis B knows no professional boundaries.