Hepatitis B and C prevalence in waste pickers: a global meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background The objective of this research was to use a meta-analysis to understand the prevalence of hepatitis B or C in waste pickers worldwide. Methods Epidemiological studies on hepatitis B and C in waste pickers were included adopting a systematic review with meta-analysis. Each selected article had its quality scored by all authors, evaluated according to the Loney’s criteria, and evaluated for quality and bias verified with a funnel plot. Results After employing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, there were 12 studies used for this meta-analysis. The rate of hepatitis B seropositivity was 0.15 (95% CI 0.10–0.20), and hepatitis C was 0.08 (95% CI 0.04–0.12). This information suggests that waste pickers are exposed to many risks associated with poor quality of life working conditions as well as low health literacy rates. Conclusion The results of this meta-analysis confirm the vulnerability of waste pickers to hepatitis B and C infection and reinforce the importance of using personal protective equipment and immunizing workers.