Perception Regarding Prevention and Control of Hepatitis Among the Garment Workers of Dhaka
Viral hepatitis, caused by infection with one hepatitis viruses, is a major public health problem worldwide. Infection with hepatitis viruses causes a significant disease burden in the South- East Asia Region, in the form of both acute and chronic hepatitis, with approximately 500 000 deaths annually in the Region [1]. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver in response to infection or toxin. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g., alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis [2]. Viral infections of the liver that are classified as viral hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.A different virus is responsible for each type of virally transmitted hepatitis [3]. Excessive alcohol consumption is sometimes referred to as alcoholic hepatitis. The alcohol directly injures the cells of the liver. Other toxic causes of hepatitis include overuse or overdose of medications and exposure to poisons.
It’s three times more common in women than in men. When symptoms appear, they usually do so about 15 to 180 days after the person has become infected. Patient outcomes after the acute phase depend on various factors, especially the type of hepatitis [4,5]. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is most often transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. HAV infections can also be severe and life threatening. Most people in areas of the world with poor sanitation have been infected with this virus. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HAV [6]. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids, can be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at the time [6]. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections occur only in those who are infected with HBV. The dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in a more serious disease and worse outcome. Hepatitis B vaccines provide protection from HDV infection. Hepatitis E virus (HEV is mostly transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food [7].
Safe and effective vaccines to prevent HEV infection have been developed but are not widely available [6,8]. In the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region, the annual number of acute cases of hepatitis A is estimated to be 400 000, with 800 deaths. In the 1980s, the presence of the anti-hepatitis A virus antibody (anti-HAV) was detected in more than 90% of children aged 15 years, and almost everyone above 25 years of age in the WHO South-East Asia Region, indicating that they had been infected with hepatitis A virus [1]. There are approximately 100 million hepatitis B carriers in the South-East Asia Region, and they account for more than 5.6% of the global population. More than 300 000 people are estimated to die each year [1]. The WHO South-East Asia Region has about 30 million hepatitis C carriers, which is more than 1.6% of the total population. Over 120 000 infected individuals in the Region are estimated to die each year, as a result of cirrhosis and liver cancer associated with hepatitis C, and this infection is considered a significant and growing public health problem.
Outbreaks of HEV infection of up to several hundred to several thousand persons have been reported frequently in the Indian subcontinent, China, south-east and central Asia, the Middle East, and northern and western parts of Africa. Hepatitis E outbreaks are characteristically associated with a high disease attack rate among pregnant women [1]. In Germany, vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for infants, children and adolescents since 1995 and for specific target groups since 1982. Little is known about knowledge about viral hepatitis and attitudes toward hepatitis B vaccination-factors likely to influence vaccine uptake. In order to estimate vaccination coverage in adult target groups and in the overall adult population and to assess knowledge and attitudes a nationwide cross-sectional telephone survey among 412 persons in November 2004 was conducted. Vaccination coverage (VC) standardized for age, sex and residence was 29.6% in the general population and 58.2% in target groups for hepatitis B vaccination. Particular gaps in vaccine coverage were detected among health care workers (VC: 69.5%) and chronically ill persons (VC: 22.0%). Knowledge on risk factors and transmission was far below expectations, whereas the acceptance of vaccination in the majority of the population (79.0%) was good [9].
Justification of the Study
Nevertheless, today the garment export sector has grown into a $6 billion industry that employs over millions of people. However, from a different look, its contributions are not regarding to the economic factors, rather than more important to the social factors including the process to reducing gender discrimination by empowering woman, balanced distribution of social power management by reducing socio-economic inequalities etc. In Bangladesh garment sector plays an important role in the overall economic development of our country. Approximately 20 lac’s workers are working in this sector, and it is also mentionable that about 76% of our foreign exchange is also earned by this sector. The majority of the female workers in the garment sector suffer from the diseases like problems in bones, abortion complexity, dermatitis, back pain, eye stain, purities, malnutrition, respiratory problems, hepatitis (Jaundice), gastric pain, fatigue, fever, abdomen pain, common cold, and helminthiasis [10]. This study aims to gain an insight regarding the level of awareness about prevention and control hepatitis among the garment workers of Dhaka.
Materials and Methods
This study was a descriptive cross- sectional study and was carried out in a garment of “Standard Group” located in Savar, Dhaka. The study population was the garment workers of Dhaka. The present study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2017. Simple random sampling technique was applied for determining sample size and data collection. The final sample size taken was 134. Both male and female garment workers working in Dhaka. Respondents who were willing to participate in the study. Structured questionnaire was used. The data was collected from primary sources. Every day, 15–20 interviews were conducted via face-to-face interview. Data collection was continued until the desired number of samples was met. Raw data was checked twice and coded in the same day of data collection with the view to simplify the data- entry. Data will be entered in and analyzed by SPSS version 25.00.
Ethical Consideration
Permission letter from AIUB authority and permission from garment’s authority were taken before starting the research work. Privacy, confidentially and anonymity were maintained. Respondent had freedom to take part in an interview, and refrain from answering any question whatever they disliked.