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Abstract: Objective. – As in other countries, Moroccan health-care workers are exposed to occupational blood exposure (OBE) hazards. The purpose of this study was to estimate the occupational safety and hygiene conditions determining the OBE risk for health-care workers. Workers and methods. – In March 2000, a multicentric study was carried out in Morocco on 420 health-care workers, with an anonymous questionnaire. The study included health-care workers in the Taza and Temara hospitals and health centers, as well as in a Rabat public medical analysis laboratory. Results. – The participation rate was 67.8% (285/420). The population was mainly female (61%) with a mean age of 41.4 years (±7 years). Health-care workers answered that: occupational hygiene and safety were inadequate (55.1%); wearing single-use gloves was rare (34.5%); resheathing used needles was frequent (74.5%); safe containers were often missing (67%). In 1999, the annual average incidence of OBE was 1.5 (±4.3) per capita. If we consider the whole career of health-care workers, the incidence reached about 14.3±28.1 per capita. The absence of post-exposure chemoprophylaxis was the rule. Conclusion. – The study shows that there is a need to improve occupational hygiene and safety conditions for Moroccan health-care workers in order to reduce OBE hazards. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To evaluate knowledge and perception of hepatitis B, including prevention, among Moroccan health care workers (HCWs) and to estimate seroprevalence of hepatitis B and vaccine coverage (VC)., Methods: Four hundred and twenty HCWs were randomly selected and stratified by site: 120 in Rabat, 140 in Taza and 160 in Témara-Skhirat. The study included an anonymous questionnaire about knowledge of hepatitis B and its prevention and a serological survey. Oral statements and vaccine registers were used to analyse the VC of the HCWs. Serological testing and VC were analysed according to the occupational exposure., Results: Participation rates in the questionnaire and serological tests were 68% (285/420) and 66% (276/420), respectively. Fifteen (5%) HCWs had a history of hepatitis B. All HCWs considered that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may be acquired through blood exposure. Vaccination was acknowledged as a necessary means against HBV transmission by 276 (98%) HCWs. Forty-two per cent HCWs had no HBV serological markers. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 1%. The mean prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) was 28% and was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among nursing auxiliaries (57%), nurses (30%), medical physicians (31%) and midwives (25%) than among laboratory technicians (13%). According to the vaccination registers (available in two sites), VC (> or =3 doses) was 55%. VC was 75% among midwives, 61% among nurses, 53% among nursing auxiliaries and 38% among medical staff. Of the fully vaccinated HCWs without anti-HBc, 51% had serological evidence of protection., Conclusion: HBV vaccines should be more readily available for Moroccan HCWs by reinforcing current vaccination programmes.