KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND PRACTICES TOWARDS HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN NORTHWEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

Hepatitis B is the world’s most common liver infection, which is caused by a DNA-virus, the hepatitis B virus (HBV). There are more than 2 billion people World-wide, having evidence of recent or past HBV infection and 350 million are chronic carriers including Nigeria. Despite the prevalence of hepatitis B in Nigeria, little has been done to investigate the knowledge, perception and practices towards hepatitis B virus infection among in-school adolescents. This study was designed to assess knowledge, perception and practices towards hepatitis B virus infection among in-school adolescents in Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a-5 stage method to select twelve schools (12) which comprises 480 respondents. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic characteristics, 20-point knowledge, 8-point perception and 17-point practice scale was used to elicit information related to respondents on HBV infection. Knowledge scores of 0-6, 7-13 and 14-20 were rated poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. Perception scores of 0-4 and >4 were rated negative and positive perception respectively. Practice scores of 0-8 and >8 were rated poor and good practice respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test/Fisher-exact with a level of significance set at P<0.05. Mean age was 13.8±2.0 years, 39.8% were within 15-19years, 56.3% of respondents were female, most (62.7%) of the respondents class were in Senior Secondary School. Majority (72.5%) were of Yoruba ethnic group while majority (66.3%), were Christians, 69.8% and 66.5% of the father and mother’s respondents had tertiary education respectively while few (29.2%) of the father’s occupation were civil servant and a bit more than half (51.3%) of the mother’s occupations were traders. Few (25.4%) ever heard of HBV infection through various channels in which school was their major (37.7%) source of information. Out of those that have heard of HBV, the majority of the respondents correctly responded to many of the knowledge questions, 65.6%, 31.1% and 3.3% had good, fair and poor knowledge respectively with the mean knowledge score of 12.7±2.8. Also, the majority (62.3%) of the respondents had good perception and 37.7% had poor perception but 10.7% agreed that HBV is the reward of sin and 44.3% agreed that they are not at risk of getting HBV infection. Almost all (94.4%) of the respondents had poor practices and only a few (5.6%) had good practices. Age, class, religion and father’s occupation were statistically significant with the respondents’ knowledge. The mother’s occupations were statistically significant with the respondents' perception. Association between socio-demographic characteristics and practice was not statistically significant and the association between knowledge and practice was not statistically significant. Practices towards Hepatitis B virus prevention were poor among in-school adolescents in Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area of Oyo State. Public enlightenment, awareness, sensitization, training and advocacy need to be intensified