Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Undergraduate Students in University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC) towards Hepatitis B

Abstract

Undergraduate students represent a population that is at high-risk for acquiring and spreading hepatitis B infection (HBV). This study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practice of undergraduate students in the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) towards Hepatitis B. During April to May 2014, a cross-sectional and descriptive survey was conducted amongst undergraduate students of UNEC. A 33-item structured questionnaire on statements concerning knowledge base of HBV, attitudes and practices towards hepatitis B were distributed to 360 students. Statistical analysis was carried out with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v 16.0 using the independent sample’s t-test and ANOVA test with level of significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Majority had heard of hepatitis (93.0%) and hepatitis B (89.9%). Less than half (35.9%) thought they could get hepatitis B infection. Only 25.6% had gone for a hepatitis B screening and just 33.0% had been vaccinated against HBV. Out of the 360 respondents, 97.2 %, 10 % and 24.4 % had good knowledge, positive attitudes and good practice, respectively. The students of health sciences had significantly better practice in hepatitis B than the students of business administration [1.89 (95% CI; 1.67 – 2.11) versus 1.46 (95% CI; 1.19 – 1.73); F = 3.072; p = 0.05]. The results of this study reveal that overall, undergraduate students of UNEC had good knowledge on hepatitis and hepatitis B but this translated neither to favourable attitudes nor good practices.