Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Hepatitis B among two rural communities of the Anglophone regions in Cameroon

Abstract

<div><p><em>Viral hepatitis, especially those caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), represents a worldwide significant cause of morbidity and mortality affecting about 2 billion people worldwide. Prevention against hepatitis B (HB) is proportional to the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the people. This study seeks to assess the KAP towards HB in two rural areas of the Anglophone regions in Cameroon </em><em>from the May 2014 of January 2015 using p</em><em>re-designed and pre-tested, semi- structured questionnaire. Any correct or positive answers was given one point and zero for a no or negative answer. The response rate was 612 (87.4%). This study revealed that mean (SD) KAP was 14.4(3.7%), 4.7(1.1%) and 3.8(1.2%) respectively. Thus majority of the respondents had low knowledge 354(57.9%), high positive attitude 334(54.6%) and low poor practice 149(24.3%) regarding HB. Excellent knowledge was expressed only by 38(6.2%) respondents.</em><em> A univariate analysis of Knowledge, showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in place, sex, age group, occupation, level of education and monthly income while for attitude a significant difference (p<0.05) was seen only in place and for practices a significant difference (p<0.05) was seen in the place, marital status, occupation, level of education and monthly income. </em><em>A linear correlation revealed a non significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=-0.003, p = 0.12), a significantly positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r =0.28, p = 0.00) and a significantly positive correlation in attitude and Practice (r =0.27, p = 0.00).</em></p><p><em> </em></p></div>