Burden and outcome of HIV infection and other morbidities in health care workers attending an Occupational Health Program at the Provincial Hospital of Tete, Mozambique

EC Casas, T Decroo, Jules Bonou Mahoudo, JM Baltazar, CD Dores, L Cumba, A De Weggheleire, V Huyst, E Bottieau

    Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Objectives To investigate the burden and outcome of HIV infection and other morbidities amongst a Mozambican hospital staff. Methods Within an occupational health service set up in April 2008 in the provincial hospital of Tete, Mozambique, we offered to all staff members an initial clinical, laboratory and radiological screening and followed them up prospectively until April 2010. Results A total of 47.5% of 423 health workers attended the program. The cohort (female-to-male ratio: 2.2; mean age: 39 years) consisted mostly of auxiliary staff (43%) and nurses (29.8%). At initial screening, 71% were asymptomatic. HIV infection (28.4%) and tuberculosis (TB) (21%) were the main reported antecedent illnesses. Laboratory screening revealed anaemia (haemoglobin level <10 mg/dl) in 9% participants, abnormal liver enzymes in 23.9% and a reactive non-treponemal syphilis test in 5%. Of 145 performed chest X-rays, 13% showed abnormalities. All 113 health workers not recently tested for HIV were screened, and 31 were newly diagnosed with HIV infection (resulting in an overall HIV prevalence of 43.8%). Nine cases of TB were diagnosed at screening/during follow-up. In April 2010, all but one of the participants were alive. All HIV-infected health workers under antiretroviral therapy were actively followed-up. Conclusion Serious conditions were frequently diagnosed in health workers, in particular HIV infection. Mid-term outcome was favourable within this program. Creation of screening and care services dedicated to caregivers should be of highest priority in similar African settings.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalTropical Medicine and International Health
    Volume16
    Issue number11
    Pages (from-to)1450-1456
    Number of pages7
    ISSN1360-2276
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

    Keywords

    • B780-tropical-medicine
    • Viral diseases
    • HIV
    • AIDS
    • Bacterial diseases
    • Tuberculosis
    • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
    • Disease burden
    • Morbidity
    • Prevalence
    • Occupational
    • Health workers
    • Hospital workers
    • Health services
    • Control programs
    • Screening
    • Anemia
    • Liver diseases
    • Follow-up
    • Mozambique
    • Africa-Southern

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