Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis C infection among the Municipal Waste collectors in Aden, Yemen

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus infection is major global health problem. The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C infection among municipal waste collectors and to identify clinical findings and risk factors associated with HCV infection among those collectors in Aden, Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 municipal waste collectors. The blood samples were collected from all MWCs, then the clotted blood was separated by centrifuge and the sera were tested for presence of HCV antibodies (Anti-HCV) by  Cobas technique that based on ECLIA. Results: Out of 100 municipal waste collectors, majority was males 89(89/100). The total mean age of those members was 36.74±10.98years. The range of ages was 16 and 60 years. Only 1(1/100) had HCV infection. This case was male, married and within age group ≥ 45years which comprised; 1.1%, 1.2% and 4.5%, respectively. The positive case was illiterate and had low economic status and had duration of work as municipal waste collector from 10-20years and alone accommodation which comprised 1.1%, 1.6% 2.4% and 9.1%, respectively. This 1(7.8%) HCV infected patient infection lives in Al-Muallhe. Significant associations found between HCV infection and exposing to blood transfusion, catheterization and needles stick as risk factors (p=0.002,0.0001 and 0.080), respectively and liver cirrhosis as complicated clinical finding (p=.0001),but the association was not significant between HCV infection and sources of waste (0.620).
Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that the municipal waste collectors in Aden, Yemen had lower rate of HCV infection than most studies globally. The males, married and MWCs in age group≥ 45years, and those had illiterate education and live alone had highest percentages of HCV infection. Blood transfusion, needles stick and catheterization may increase the risk of HCV infection.