Abstract
INTRODUCTION: in Cameroon, traditional healers (THs) are highly exposed to bloodborne infections due to their professional practices. However, there is a critical lack of data regarding the sero-epidemiology of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), as well as Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) among this population. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of these infections among THs. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Dschang Health District between February and April 2024. The protocol included two components: a descriptive analysis to determine the seroprevalence of the studied infections, and an analytical component to identify contributing factors. According to our selection criteria, all participants were exhaustively recruited. Data were collected within the community using a standardised questionnaire administered in person. Descriptive statistics were followed by the calculation of the Odds Ratio (OR) to identify factors associated with seroprevalence, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: of the 132 practitioners contacted, 114 were included in the study. The traditional healers showed a seroprevalence of 9.4% (CI: [4.2-16.6]) for HIV, 2.1% (CI: [0-5.1]) for HBV, and 3.1% (CI: [0-7.2]) for HCV. The majority of participants (58.8%) had a low level of knowledge. Overall, attitudes were positive, and the most commonly reported practice was scarification (90.4%). The only factor significantly associated with infection was the practice of traditional autopsies (OR = 17.4 [1.54-198], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: the prevalence of HIV among traditional healers is notably high. Therefore, it is crucial to provide them with personal protective equipment and ensure they receive training on bloodborne infections to help reduce transmission risks.