ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B Virus is the organism that causes Hepatitis B infection. It is transmitted in blood, blood products and other body fluids, the incubation period lasts for 1-6months. Symptoms include headache, fever and jaundice. Most people recover but hepatitis B infection can be fatal.This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection, immunization status and infection control practices among the Private Medical Laboratory staffs in Lagos Metropolis, Lagos State. A total of 164 participants aged between 15-65years were recruited for this study comprising 97(59.1%) females and 67(40.9%) males (married and single). They were recruited from Private Medical Laboratories Lagos Metropolis. Their blood samples were taken and analyzed using HbsAg Rapid Test Strip. Then, positive samples were confirmed using ELISA Bio kits. Demographically, results showed a mean age of 33.5 ± 12.98 years. Greater percentage (60.4%) were single, married (37.8%) among others. Medical Laboratory Scientists constituted a greater percentage (35.4%) of the study population followed by the Technicians while the Nurses and Messengers were in minority (1.2%). Greater percentage (57.3%) had tertiary education, postgraduates (26.2%) and secondary education (16.5%). Those with 1-4years experience were more (36.6%) than 10-14years of experience (5.5%). Their knowledge on infection control symbols, possible routes and types of infection in the laboratory, safe laboratory procedures, good laboratory design are quite high ranging from 73.2% to 98.8%. However, there is an overall high compliance in the use of PPE (handgloves 86.0%, labcoat 70.1%, boot 51.2% though facemask 26.2%, hair cover 13.4%, eye goggles 4.9% and respirator 1.2% were low), hand washing 86.6%, not eating in the laboratories, sterilization of equipment and surfaces, proper waste management and disposal except needle recap where about 62.2% recap needles. It was observed that majority 65.8% of the staff were not immunized against HBV and more than half of those immunized did not complete 3 doses of the immunization. A prevalence of 9.1% of HBV infection among the respondents was deduced. 15 respondents that tested positive for HBV did not undergo immunization for Hepatitis B virus, interestingly other respondents that tested negative for the Hepatitis B were among the immunized. There was no significant association between HBV infection and age (P=0.339), marital status P=0.393; gender P=0.944; work cadre, P=0.208; work experience P=0.541; and educational qualification, P=0.823. But there was an overall relationship between cadre of workers and compliance to infection control; P=0.039 in the areas of use of face mask (P=0.010), boot (P=0.038), shoe cover (P=0.012) and respirator (P=0.047) but no significance in use of hand gloves (P=0.616), Lab coats (P=0.342), eye goggles (P=0.529) and hair cover (P=0.064). Out of 70 respondents that has experienced laboratory accidents, needle prick was the most frequent laboratory accident 41(58.57%), splash on the skin and mucus membrane 15(21.4%), contamination of open wound 9 (12.9%), others 5(7.14%). Only 42 out of the 70 indicated accidents were treated.In conclusion, all Private Medical Laboratory workers should be immunized against HBV and method of enforcement to adhere to infection control practices be devised since their knowledge of risk factors does not transpose to compliance.
