Model Development for Hepatitis B and C Prevention among Waste Sorting Employees in Local Government Organization, Yasothon province

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and assess the model of the hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] prevention systems among waste sorting employees in local government organization in Yasothon province. The action research was used to develop the model. The research had three stages: firstly, preparing and situation analysis, secondly, developing the model; and finally, operating and testing the developed model. There were 357 participants who were waste sorting employees. Data analysis was done by content analysis for qualitative data and descriptive statistics and inferential statistics for quantitative data. Study was conducted during June to April 2020. The results found that the participants were mainly male (90.1%), having previously had an accident while waste sorting (34.2%), having had sex without condoms (23.2%), having been stabbed by pointed object (21.6%), HBsAg positive (3.1%), anti-HCV positive (4.2%). The qualitative data found that HBV-HCV prevention and treatment were unclear for the operation in the past. Case management system and health literacy program has been developed to solve the problem. The system developed could help people living with HBV-HCV access to the health care (92.3%). Health literacy program was effective as participants knowledge and health behavior improved significantly (p-value<0.05). Following the program implementation, the number of new cases in intervention group (1/26, 1/26) was lower than control group (3/26, 4/26), but not statistically significant (p-value>0.05). The developed model had four components including: 1) Behavior surveillance, 2) Blood testing, 3) Case referral for treatment, and 4) Health literacy, which should be implemented using an integrated approach and active engagement by all local stakeholders.