Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Hepatitis B Infection and Vaccination among Public Health Students in Ghana

• 作者: Augustine Kumah Emmanuel Tormeti Gideon Dzando Hillary Selassi Nutakor Wonder Andrea Yayra Amenuvor Charles Komla Anagblah Honore Mordenu Evans Awutey Hope Akpeke Prosper Kpobi
• 来源期刊: 预防医学期刊(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: KNOWLEDGE Practice ATTITUDE Hepatitis B STUDENTS Ghana
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（1）
• 页码范围: 43-53
• 页数: 11页
• 分类号: R51

摘要

<strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis-B (Hep-B) infection is a global public health problem of great concern which affects more than 5% of the local population in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed students’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards Hepatitis B infection and vaccination at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 262 Public Health students of the University of Health and Allied Science of the Volta region of Ghana, using a multi-stage sampling technique in selecting participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20.1. <strong>Results: </strong>Study respondents were mostly males, forming 69.8% as against 30.2% of their female counterparts. All (262) respondents had knowledge on Hep-B infection and the availability of a vaccine for preventing Hepatitis infection. However, despite their knowledge of existence, the majority (56.9%) of the respondents felt they did not need to be protected from Hep-B infection. Majority (58.8%) of the total respondents have been vaccinated against Hep-B infection. The study identified the cost of vaccines as a major setback to non-vaccination. However, out of the 41.2% respondents who were not vaccinated against Hep B infection, majority (50.9%) of them were not willing to be vaccinated even if it was offered to them at no cost. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> There was a significantly high level of knowledge on Hep-B infection and the availability of vaccine for Hep-B infection among students. However, the majority of the respondents felt they did not need to be protected from Hep-B infection. More education is needed on the importance of vaccination as an effective measure for controlling Hepatitis infection.