Rauf Mohammad Uzair Abdul, Saleem Muhammad Danish, Anwer Muhammad Osama, Ahmed Gulrays, Aziz Sina, Memon Muhammad Ashraf
Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
J Pak Med Assoc. 2013 Jun;63(6):798-802.
To determine the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, and to study the associated risk factors in garbage scavengers of Karachi.
The cross-sectional study was performed in a colony inhabited by low socioeconomic garbage-collecting people. Data was collected from April to December 2011. After informed consent and pre-test counselling, a set of questions were asked from a questionnaire, and 5cc of blood was drawn for pathological testing. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis.
A total of 141 males agreed to participate in the study with a mean age of 21.33+/-9.28 years. Most of the respondents (n=67; 47.5%) were in the age group 11-20 years; 86 (61%) were single; 89 (63%) were illiterate and 127 (90%) had a monthly income less than Rs.10,000. Prevalence of hepatitis B was 18.8% (n=22), followed by 8.5% (n=10) and 0.85% (n=1) of hepatitis C and HIV respectively. Besides, 108 (77%) collected needles/syringes and 76 (54%) got pricked more than once. Only 23 (16%) wore gloves while collecting garbage. Overall, 79 (56%) had a history of sexual contact; 18 (23%) had three or more partners.
The important factors contributing to the high prevalence of hepatitis B and C were needle prick injuries, bare-handed/bare-footed collection of garbage, poor vaccination status, improper garbage disposal system and the site of waste collection.
确定卡拉奇拾荒者中人类免疫缺陷病毒、乙型和丙型肝炎的血清流行率，并研究相关危险因素。
在一个居住着社会经济地位低下的垃圾收集者的聚居地进行横断面研究。于2011年4月至12月收集数据。在获得知情同意和进行预测试咨询后，通过问卷询问一系列问题，并抽取5毫升血液进行病理学检测。使用SPSS 18进行统计分析。
共有141名男性同意参与研究，平均年龄为21.33±9.28岁。大多数受访者（n = 67；47.5%）年龄在11 - 20岁之间；86人（61%）为单身；89人（63%）为文盲，127人（90%）月收入低于10,000卢比。乙型肝炎患病率为18.8%（n = 22），其次丙型肝炎患病率为8.5%（n = 10），人类免疫缺陷病毒患病率为0.85%（n = 1）。此外，108人（77%）收集过针头/注射器，76人（54%）被刺伤不止一次。收集垃圾时仅23人（16%）戴手套。总体而言，79人（56%）有性接触史；18人（23%）有三个或更多性伴侣。
导致乙型和丙型肝炎高患病率的重要因素包括针刺伤、徒手/赤脚收集垃圾、疫苗接种状况不佳、垃圾处理系统不当以及垃圾收集地点。
