Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Hepatitis B Among Secondary School and College Students in Bangladesh

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a silent epidemic as it is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem. It attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The main objective of the present study were to evaluate the knowledge of mode of transmission, prevention and attitudes of secondary school and college students regarding viral hepatitis B. A questionnaire based survey was carried out among 380 students in 16 school and college in Dhaka, Brahmanbaria and Munshiganj district of Bangladesh. The majority (62.63%) of the study population were aged between 15-17 years. Among the respondants 52.36% were female and 47.63% were Male. During the study it was found that 89.47% students have heard about Hepatitis B but only 12.37% students mentioned liver as the affected organ. Educational institute was identified as the major ( 58.42%) source of knowledge. Level of vaccination of the students was 52.36%. During assessing the knowledge of mode of thansmission, 38.42% mentioned blood transfusion as route of transmission of Hepatitis B, 32.11% mentioned needles and sharps while only 28.38% said that the disease can be transmitted through unprotected sex. Misconception regarding the transmission include mosquito bite 15.79% and sharing toilet with infected person 15.53%. The ways of preventing Hepatitis B infection were knowledge and education (53.42%) and blood test before marriage (42.63%). Majority of the respondants showed negative attitude toward the infected person. The level of knowledge and awareness regarding the mode of transmission and prevention is low. Messages need to be incorporated in media campaigns, in addition with arranging seminar by the educational institutes and different types of health organization can increase knowledge and awareness about Hepatitis B virus and its infection.