Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students in Geetanjali Medical College, Udaipur

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health problems in the world. According to the recent estimates, about one-third of the world population is infected with HBV. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of HBV infection in the health care settings. The prevalence rate of HBV in HCWs is about 2–10 times higher than the general populations in the world.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at GMCH, Udaipur from March 2017 to August 2017 on a pretested, precoded and prestructured self administered questionnaire included sections on knowledge, attitude, and practice toward hepatitis B after having oral/ written consent among 200 medical Students.Results: There were 144 (72.0%) males and 56 (28.0%) females participated as study subjects, more than 80.00% of the study subjects knew about the causative agent, vertical transmission, and vaccine prevention and after effects of HBV infection, 151 (75.50%) agreed for health education for STD’s in the schools, 42 (21.00%) of the study subjects had experienced the needle stuck injury.Conclusions: Although more than 80% students had scientific knowledge about HBV but still there are gaps in the knowledge of Medical Students about Hepatits B infection. Sensitization of the medical students to the various aspects of disease through an active health education programme is crucial to control the spread of Hepatitis B.

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among healthcare workers of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran

“…Besides, the levels of attitudes were reported favorable but the levels of good practices were illustrated with low frequency as those concluded in the present study. 15,26 Likewise, the results of another study conducted among Ethiopian medical students indicated that the levels of knowledge among 80% of the participants was good which were in agreement with findings of the present study although, in this report, the favorable levels of attitudes were reported about 10% higher than that in the present study. 6 The findings of another survey in 2017, as one of the comprehensive studies on the measurement of the levels of KAP concerning viral hepatitis around the world on 2500 Iranian medical students also demonstrated that the participants' score for the construct of levels of knowledge was 7.35 (out of 10), that was 4.88 for the parameter of levels of attitudes (from -20 to +20), and such a value was 5.67 (out of 9) for the construct of levels of practices which illustrated a bad status, especially in the parameters of levels of attitudes and practices.…”

“…It was also possible that different countries would implement specific intervention and prevention programs and plans based on the priorities of their health systems, so variations in the levels of KAP could be attributed to this factor. 15,26,27 In addition, the difference in study time, especially comparing Iranian investigations with one another, could be assumed as one other reason for the differences between the findings. 12,20,22 However, in the overall conclusion, it seemed that the frequency of good levels of knowledge among HCWs and medical students in the majority of the studies conducted in developing countries was about 80% which seemed to be desirable despite being mathematically distant from the ideal status of 100%.…”

“…12,20,22 However, in the overall conclusion, it seemed that the frequency of good levels of knowledge among HCWs and medical students in the majority of the studies conducted in developing countries was about 80% which seemed to be desirable despite being mathematically distant from the ideal status of 100%. 6,15,17,18,23,24,26 However, it was assumed that appropriate measures were needed to be taken to improve the low frequency of good levels of practices and favorable levels of attitudes in this domain. The common point among the majority of the investigations was that the favorable levels of attitudes and good levels of practices were generally distinct from good levels of knowledge suggesting that the existing education was likely to be effective in improving levels of knowledge but not those of practices and attitudes.…”

Knowledge attitude and practice on prevention of hepatitis B infection among medical students of a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India

“…Studies show that despite increasing prevalence of HBV, there is paucity of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on Hepatitis B infection and its prevention among medical students. [8][9][10][11] Objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on prevention of hepatitis B infection among medical students of Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamil Nadu.…”