KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS HEPATITIS B AMONG HEALTHY POPULATION OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis "B" and "C" have risen as significant Public Health Problems in Pakistan. It has been observed that each thirteenth Pakistani is possibly infected with either Hepatitis B or C. Several viruses, bacteria and drug involved in causation of hepatitis. According to The World Health Organization (WHO) people suffering from chronic HBV infection are 350 million and chronic HCV infection affected 170 million people worldwide. Methods: The design of this study was Analytical cross sectional. Convenience sampling technique was used. Data was collected from 175 healthy adults' population (Males & Females) of Lahore ages of 18 to 57 years old. The data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Univarate analysis was done and chi square and correlation test were applied. Result: Data was collected from 122 males and 53 females. Out of 175 respondents, 164 of 18-27 years old with mean 1.13+ 0.57. Majority of respondents had belonging to the age of 18-27 years of which only 151 respondents said that they knew that hepatitis B effect liver with p value 0.000. Only 139 responder with age group of 18-27 years had knowledge that Hepatitis B is transmitted by using un-sterilized syringes, needles etc with p value 0.005 which showed strongly association age and knowledge regarding Hepatitis B. Out of 175, 143 respondents had gone to health facility center when they think that they had symptoms of hepatitis B with p value 0.032 which showed strong association. In present study correlation revealed significant positive correlation (+1) between knowledge and practice (r = 0.354, p < 0.01). Conclusions: It is concluded that majority respondents had knowledge regarding Hep B but do not practicing the preventive measures to prevent themselves from getting this disease. It is concluded that adequate knowledge can resulting in good practices.