Healthcare Workers’ Hepatitis B Virus Preventive Practices at a Mission Hospital in Kenya

Abstract

Hepatitis B (HBV) infection constitutes a major public health concern worldwide. In its chronicity, the infection causes potentially fatal advanced liver diseases. In Kenya, the prevalence of HBV infection has been on an upward trajectory despite the availability of an effective vaccine. However, the literature demonstrates a dearth of information regarding healthcare workers’ (HCWs’) practices towards the infection. This study assessed HCWs’ preventive practices toward HBV infection at Kijabe Hospital. A cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 254 frontline HCWs at Kijabe Hospital was conducted. Ethical approval from the Kabarak University Research & Ethics Committee (KUREC- 090323), Kijabe Hospital Ethical Review Committee (KH/ISERC/02718/0054/2023), and a research license from the National Commission for Science, Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI/P/23/24856) were obtained. Before data collection, informed consent was obtained from each participant. Data was collected using validated self-administered questionnaires and analyzed on STATA v18. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables. More females (65.4%) than males participated in the study. Most (80.3%) were aged between 25 and 35 years with half of the participants being married. Most respondents held diplomas (44.5%). Nurses formed the majority (45.7%) of the respondents. No significant association was shown between HCWs’ sex (P =.594), age (P=.686), education level (P=.492), service department (P=.538), experience years (P=.555), and practices. Most (60.24%) HCWs demonstrated a lack of absolute adherence to the available safety practices. For instance, about 60% completed 3 doses of the HBV vaccine, 14% never changed gloves between patients, 52% had had a past needlestick injury and about 63% recapped needles after use. These findings underscore suboptimal infection control practices among the sampled HCWs. Therefore, regular training and sensitization on preventive practices towards HBV cannot be overemphasized. We further recommend a targeted intervention anchored on qualitative study findings.