Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards hepatitis B virus among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional, hospital-based study in Montserrado County, Liberia

Abstract

Prevention is critical in safeguarding against the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding the disease play an important role in its prevention or spread, yet in this regard, data in Liberia remains scarce. Hence, determining the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) level of HCWs toward HBV infection becomes necessary. A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 251 HCWs at two major health facilities in Monrovia. KAP regarding HBV was assessed using a standardized structured questionnaire. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics for demographic characteristics, percentages for categorical variables, and mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables. Kruskal Wallis test, p < 0.05, was used to derive statistical inferences. Complete data from 248 respondents showed a mean age of 36.3 ± 8.9 years with most respondents were within 30-39 age range (45.82%). While poor knowledge was observed in responses to all categories of questions, correct response rates to questions range from 41.93 - 99.19% for transmission of HBV, to 98.79 - 100% for preventive measures of HBV. About 77.8% and 90.32% of study respondents strongly agreed that hepatitis B is a major public health threat and that following infection control guidelines will protect them from being infected with HBV at work respectively. More than half of the participants (60.08%) had a history of needle-stick injury (NSI), and washing the injury site with water and soap, sterilizing the wound, and checking whether the patient has a blood-borne disease was done by 48.79%, 53.62% and 27.01% of the respondents respectively. Findings from this study show that there is an inadequate level of KAP regarding HBV infection among the HCWs. It therefore is expedient to conduct regular awareness campaigns for HCWs on preventive measures against HBV infection in hospitals, in addition to workshops and in-service trainings on infection prevention and control (IPC) best practices.