Page 196 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Blood exposure in Cameroon healthcare workers

A p-value (<0.05) was used to declare significant 3.2. Prevalence of occupational exposure to BBFs
heterogeneity. Finally, meta-regression analysis was used Figures 2 and 3 show that the random-effects model
to assess the association between the prevalence of BBF estimated the overall pooled prevalence of 12-month
exposure and the study year, region, and sample size. exposure to BBFs among HCWs in Cameroon to be
The data were analyzed using R Statistics (version 4.3.3). 55.44% (95% CI: 41.20 – 69.68), with highly significant
Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. heterogeneity (I = 97.5%, p<0.001), whereas the pooled
2
Symmetrical large inverted funnels reflected the absence of lifetime prevalence of exposure to BBFs was estimated to
publication bias. A narrative review of the significant risk be 57.27% (95% CI: 42.43 – 72.10), with a significantly
factors was also conducted. high level of heterogeneity (I = 97.7%, p<0.001).
2
3. Results 3.3. Heterogeneity and subgroup analysis

A comprehensive literature review yielded a total of 539 The random-effects model was preferred because of the
articles. After the removal of 144 duplicate studies, only 395 highly significant heterogeneity between the studies on
articles remained. After reviewing their titles and abstracts, the prevalence estimates of both 12-month and lifetime
319 studies were excluded due to lack of relevance. The exposure to BBFs (Figures 2 and 3).
full texts of the remaining 16 studies were then assessed The highest pooled prevalence of 12-month exposure
for eligibility. Finally, 15 study reports met the eligibility to BBFs among HCWs was observed in intermediate-
criteria and were included in this systematic review and level health facilities (84.73%, 95% CI: 85.55 – 88.50),
meta-analysis (Figure 1). followed by regions other than the Centre (70.87%, 95%
3.1. Description of studies CI: 37.26 – 95.13), and in studies conducted from 2017 to
2023 (65.63%, 95% CI: 45.73 – 83.06). The lowest pooled
A total of 14 original articles and one unpublished research prevalence was reported in studies conducted from 2010 to
with a total sample of 2613 participants were included to 2016 (41.13%, 95% CI: 33.11 – 49.40). This meta-analysis
estimate the pooled prevalence, determine the reporting also found that the lifetime prevalence of exposure to BBFs
rate, and review risk factors. The studies were conducted was the highest in other regions, namely the North-West
between 2012 and 2023. Most of the studies were conducted and South-West regions (77.96%, 95% CI: 57.39 – 93.19),
in the center region and in central-level healthcare settings and the lowest lifetime prevalence of exposure to BBFs
(Table 1). was observed in studies with a sample size of <200 (45.9%,

Identification Record identified through Additional record identified
through other data sources
database searching
(n=2)
(n=537)
Duplicate removed
(n=144)
Screening Record screened by title/abstract Record excluded by
(n=395)

title/abstract review
(n=319)

Eligibility Full text assessed for eligibility Full text article excluded with
(n=16)
reason:
• Study had no relevant data
(n=1)
Full text included in the systematic
Included (n=15)
review and metanalysis

Figure 1. Flow diagram of the systematic review of studies related to occupational exposure among healthcare workers in Cameroon from 2010 to 2023

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 188 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025090016