Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Occurrence and Risk Factors in Medical Waste Handlers in Tertiary Care Hospitals at District Bajaur

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a global issue. In health care setting waste of these processed virus samples are handled by medical waste handlers which are vulnerable to such hepatitis due to nature of their job. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C among medical waste handlers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a hospital at District Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtun khuwa, within a time period of six months (6). A total number of 50 samples were collected from medical waste handler. They were screened for HBV and HCV with the help of ICT kit. Statistical tool (SPSS 22) was used for screening of HBV and HCV through ICT. RESULTS: In the current study out of 50 samples, 2 of them were tested positive for Hepatitis B. it was represented as 4.0% (n=2) of the total. The rest of the remaining 48 samples were tested negative for Hepatitis B. While 3 samples were tested positive for Hepatitis C. it was represented as 6.0% (n=3) of the total population. CONCLUSION: In our study Out of 50 samples we reported only 2 samples HBV positive and 3 Sample HBV positive. These findings underscore the need for proactive measures to protect the health and safety of these essential healthcare workers and reduce the transmission of hepatitis within healthcare settings.