Hepatitis B Infection among Commercial Sex Workers in Lyantonde Town, Central Uganda: Prevalence, Knowledge and Practices
Published: 2020-06-29
Page: 90-95
Issue: 2020 - Volume 3 [Issue 1]
Erick Thokerunga *
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, China.
Akatujuna Asumprisio
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Semakula Dennis
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Abomugisha Innocent
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Yikita Derrick
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Simon Peter Rugera
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.
Gilbert Akankwatsa
Epicenter Mbarara Research Center, Uganda.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B infection among female commercial sex workers in Lyantonde town.
Study Design: A cross sectional study was conducted.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Lyantonde town, Lyantonde district, central Uganda, from November 2019 to January 2020.
Methodology: Included were 207 consented commercial sex workers operating in Lyantonde town at the time of the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on bio-data, knowledge on hepatitis B infection and practices. Blood samples were then collected and transported to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Laboratory for analysis.
Results: Hepatitis B prevalence of 12.6% was established among the commercial sex workers. 207 participants with a mean age of 26±3.801 were studied. 28.0% were married, 30.4% cohabiting, 12.1% single and 29.5% divorced. 15.0% had no formal education, 28.5% had primary level education and 56.5% had secondary level education. 60.4% lived on less than one dollar a day.
All the participants had ever heard of hepatitis B infection. 95.6% had awareness of its sexual transmission, 44.9% knew it spreads through sharing sharps, 4.8% had awareness of mother to child transmission during child birth and 38.6% thought the disease is unpreventable.
Thirty-five-point seven percent (35.7%) had ever tested for the disease but none vaccinated. All the participants reported irregular condom use during sex and non-confessed to intravenous or illicit drug use. 61.8% expressed desire to giving birth at home and not a hospital.
Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection at 12.6% is highly prevalent among female commercial sex workers in Lyantonde town majority of whom are unaware of their status and do not consistently practice safe sex e.g. condom use. A targeted testing and vaccination program including prevention awareness campaigns could go a long way in keeping this marginalized population safe.
Keywords: Hepatitis B infection, Lyantonde town, prevalence, Central Uganda.