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The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
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Seroprevalence of acute hepatitis C virus infection among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers in Plateau State, Nigeria

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 30, pages 35–39 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the countries highly endemic for viral hepatitis. However, data on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers has not been documented. Hence, this study sought to determine the seroprevalence of HCV among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Between December 2015 and February 2016, a total of 80 blood samples were collected from mortuary workers and ambulance drivers with the view to test for HCV antibody using rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-HCV immunoglobulin M. Three milliliter of blood was collected from each patient and the serum was separated out and used for the screening. A self-administered questionnaire was used to access the patients’ sociodemographic variables. Of the 80 samples analyzed, five (6.3%) were positive for HCV using the rapid immunochromatographic assay, while two (2.5%) were positive for anti-HCV immunoglobulin M. There was no statistical association between seroprevalence of HCV with age and sex of patients. However, the seroprevalence of HCV was significantly associated with contact with blood, number of sexual partners, use of gloves, and history of sexually transmitted infections (P<0.05). The HCV seroprevalence of 2.5% among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers was relatively low; however, this suggests that the patients are at-risk group for occupational infection due to HCV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Jos, Gwagwalada, Jos, FCT Abuja, Nigeria

    Jeremiah M. Uruku, Nimzing Lohya, Enenche S. Iyalla, Kadiri Ezra & Emmanuel O. Falade

  2. Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria

    Amos Dangana & Idris-Abdullahi Nasir MSc

  3. Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria

    Bibiana N. Egenti

  4. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Idris-Abdullahi Nasir MSc

Authors
  1. Jeremiah M. Uruku
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  2. Amos Dangana
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  3. Idris-Abdullahi Nasir MSc
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  4. Bibiana N. Egenti
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  5. Nimzing Lohya
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  6. Enenche S. Iyalla
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  7. Kadiri Ezra
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  8. Emmanuel O. Falade
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Idris-Abdullahi Nasir MSc.

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Uruku, J.M., Dangana, A., Nasir, IA. et al. Seroprevalence of acute hepatitis C virus infection among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Egypt J Intern Med 30, 35–39 (2018). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_66_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_66_17

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