Determination of the prevalence of the HBs antigen and evaluation of the vaccination status against Hepatitis B among the staff of the Dschang district hospital in West Cameroon

Hepatitis B infection is a major global health problem. Sub–saharan Africa is particularly affected. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBs antigen (HBs Ag) and to assess the hepatitis B vaccine status among medical and paramedical staff at Dschang District Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Dschang District Hospital from November 2018 to June 2019. All medical and paramedical staff of the Dschang District Hospital were included, regardless of sex or age, vaccinated and unvaccinated. We assessed the level of knowledge of hepatitis B, investigated hepatitis B markers like HBs antigen (HBs Ag), HBc antibody (HBc Ab), HBs antibody (HBs Ab); we performed HBs Ab assay, investigated hepatitis B risk factors, and low hepatitis B immunization factors, among an average of 171 health personnel aged 36.48 ± 9.58. Of these, 94.7 % said they knew hepatitis B. The prevalence of hepatitis B was 7%. Nursing and paramedical professions were the main concerned by the HBs Ag positivity. The risk factors found in HBs Ag carriers were unprotected sex, scarification and blood exposure accident. There was an association between HBs antigen portage and unprotected sex (P=0.021), blood exposure accident (P=0.021) and piercing (P=0.004). However, there was no association between HBs Ag carrying and age group (P=0.779), sex (P=0.248) and marital status (P=0.779). On the basis of the statements, without a certificate, 57% of the staff said they had already been vaccinated against hepatitis B; of these, 89% had received at least 3 doses of vaccine, of which 53.3% had acquired immunity from HBV. Advanced age (over 40 years) and overweight were associated with a low response to hepatitis B vaccine. In addition, sex and smoking were not associated with low hepatitis B seroprotection. In conclusion, this study found that the prevalence of HBs Ag is still high in our context and low hepatitis B seroprotection in the study population. Hence the need for awareness-raising, systematic screening and vaccination of health personnel, training of vaccinators and monitoring of the vaccination chain.