Risk Behaviors, Occupational Risk and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and A Infections among Public Cleansing Workers of Bangkok Metropolis

Background and aims: public cleansing workers, especially public garbage collectors are probably at risk for hepatitisb virus (hbv) and/or hepatitis a virus (hav) infections. this study was designed to assess risky behaviors, occupationalrisk and seroprevalence of hbv and hav infections in this group.methods: 354 public cleansing workers of bangkok metropolis (185 cleaners and 169 garbage collectors) were randomlyselected by multi-stage sampling. the subjects were interviewed and their blood specimens were collected toinvestigate hbv seromarkers (hbsag, anti-hbs and anti-hbc) and anti-hay by voluntary participation.results: out of 354 workers, 22.6% had tattoos, 15.8% had a history of regular alcohol consumption, and 6.8% had ahistory of extramarital sex without using condoms in a previous year. public garbage collectors had relatively higherpercentage than public cleaners. also, public garbage collectors had significantly higher percentage of occupationalrisks including a history of contact with blood, a history of contact with used condom, syringe or needle, and a historyof needle stick or sharp puncture than public cleaners (p= 0.0018, 0.0067 &. 0.0012, respectively). results from bloodscreening revealed 49.4% of hbv seropositivity, 5.9% of hbsag, 37.3% of anti-hbs, 6.2% of anti-hbc only, and 85%of anti-hay antibody. public garbage collectors had significantly higher hbv seropositivity than public cleaners(p=0.0058), while there was no statistical significance in anti-hay positivity between groups. risk factors for hbvseropositiveness after multivariate analysis were occupation (adjusted or=1.76, p=0.0027), a history of contact withused condom, syringe or needle (adjusted or=3.02, p(less than)o.oool), and a history of needle stick or sharp puncture(adjusted or=4.21, p(less than)o.oool).conclusions: this study supported public cleansing workers; especially public garbage collectors were at risk for hbvand/or hav infections. the risk reduction programs including a 100% condom use, life skills education, hygienicpractice, use of safer equipment for collecting garbage, and hbv vaccination should be provided for this group.