Hepatitis B Knowledge in Lagos, Nigeria: Implications for Prevention and Control

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the knowledge of, attitudes to and practice concerning hepatitis B in Lagos, Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire was used as survey instrument. Three hundred and seventy eight respondents participated in the survey, were selected through a multi-staged random sampling method. Only 222/378 (58.7%) had ever heard of hepatitis B; only 31.5% knew that it was a viral infection and less than a third knew about modes of transmission or complications while 27% were aware the disease was preventable through vaccination. Two respondents (0.5%) were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Knowledge about the disease was poor as only 98 respondents (27%) had adequate knowledge on the subject (at least 50% of the study scores). Age, gender and education qualifications did not have any significant association with knowledge on hepatitis B (p>0.05). Low knowledge about hepatitis B is evident in the community and remains a barrier to the control of the disease.


[J. of the Nig. Infection Control Assn. Vol.3(2) 2000: 1-5]