Frequency and risk factors of bloodborne infectious diseases among informal solid waste handlers: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of bloodborne infectious diseases among informal solid waste handlers. Study Design: Cross-sectional Analytical study. Setting: Marghzar Colony, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: October to November 2019. Material & Methods: Convenience enrollment 101 handlers out total 150 invited subjects resulted in a response rate 67.3%. A predesigned proforma was administered collect demographic clinical information. Whole blood specimen collected for subsequent screening hepatitis B, C human immunodeficiency virus by rapid immune-chromatographic technique. Crosstabs analysis performed calculate odds ratios chi square test used find association between diseases. Results: Mean age study population 31.9±12.8 years. Participation females 65.3% higher than males 34.7%. Overall 4.0% included 2.0% B C. None respondents had HIV or co-infection Frequency those who from sites 6.0%, received sharps injuries (100.0%), never personal protective equipment (100.0%). Gender male [OR=6.094; 95.0% CI, 0.609–60.927], smoking [OR=5.056; 0.454–56.245], collection site [OR=6.133; 0.537–70.057] showed Conclusion: The proportions hepatitis, not using were high Waste occupational transmission hepatitis.