ArticlePloS one2018
Cross sectional study of chronic hepatitis B prevalence among healthcare workers in an urban setting, Sierra Leone.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Sierra Leone, 1997-2022: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2023Pooled it
- Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Among Healthcare Workers in Asia and Africa and Its Association With Their Knowledge and Awareness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Hepatitis B and C virus infection among healthcare workers in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Environmental health and preventive medicine · 2021Pooled it
- Review
- Social challenges experienced by Hepatitis B patients: A mixed method study.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2023Article
- Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Hepatitis B Virus and Tuberculosis Are Associated with Increased Noncommunicable Disease Risk among Treatment-Naïve People with HIV: Opportunities for Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Comorbidities in Sierra Leone.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Factors Associated with HBsAg Seropositivity among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at 10 Community Health Centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C in Sierra Leone-current knowledge and knowledge gaps: a narrative review.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2021Review
- Prevalence of sero-markers and non-invasive assessment of liver cirrhosis in patients with Hepatitis B virus infection in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study.BMC gastroenterology · 2021Article
- Screening, Vaccination Uptake and Linkage to Care for Hepatitis B Virus among Health Care Workers in Rural Sierra Leone.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2021Article
- Screening and linkage to care for medical students with hepatitis B virus infection in Sierra Leone.Heliyon · 2020Article
- Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Infections in HIV-Infected Patients in Sierra Leone.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2019Article
- Barriers to longitudinal follow-up for hepatitis B treatment in rural Sierra Leone: A mixed methods study of retention in care.Clinical liver diseaseArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionHepatitis B is a serious public health problem across sub-Saharan Africa. Sierra Leone has no national hepatitis B strategy plan or high quality estimates of prevalence. Healthcare workers are perceived as an at-risk group for hepatitis B. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B among healthcare workers at two hospital sites in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
methodsIn October 2017, healthcare workers were offered voluntary testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) using rapid lateral flow assay for all samples, followed by Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay to confirm positive results. Participants completed a questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning hepatitis B. HBsAg positive participants were invited to a clinic for further assessment.
resultsOverall, 447 participants were tested for hepatitis B. Most (90.6%, 405/447) participants were nurses, 72.3% (323/447) were female and 71.6% (320/447) were 30 years or older. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg positivity) was 8.7% (39 / 447, 95% CI 6.3-11.7%). There was no significant difference in prevalence by sex, age group, site of work or type of job. None of the 66.7% (26 / 39) of participants with chronic hepatitis B who attended the clinic met the 2015 WHO criteria to start treatment for hepatitis B on the basis of cirrhosis. Most participants (96.9% 432 / 446) stated that they were worried about their risk of hepatitis B at work.
conclusionsHepatitis B is highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone. It is unclear whether this reflects high community prevalence or is due to occupational risk. No participants with chronic hepatitis B needed to start treatment. In order to achieve the WHO target of elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, introduction of birth dose vaccine for infants and catch-up vaccines for healthcare workers and healthcare students, together with a national hepatitis B screen and treat programme is advisable for Sierra Leone.
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