Hepatitis B Knowledge, Attitude and Vaccination Status among Nurses of Tamale Central Hospital, Ghana

Abdul Rauf Alhassan

doi:10.31579/2693-4779/035

Abstract

Background: In our healthcare setting transmission of hepatitis B is a big challenge to handle for both patients and healthcare providers especially those in frequent contact with blood. Objectives: To determine Hepatitis B knowledge, attitude, and vaccination status among nurses of Tamale Central Hospital. Methods: This study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20. Bivariate analysis was done using chi-square to determine the relationships. Results: The study recorded a response rate of 92.5%. Majority (59.6%) had high, 36.4% had moderate and 4.0% had low knowledge hepatitis B. Hepatitis knowledge level was associated with: age X2 (4) = 17.789, P= 0.001, sex, X2(2) = 13.203, P = 0.001, educational level, X2(6) = 17.552, P = 0.007, nursing category, X2(4) = 19.226, P = 0.001, and duration of nursing practice X2(2) = 19.492, P ≤ 0.001. About 42.9% had positive attitude toward hepatitis B prevention and attitude level towards hepatitis B was associated with: marital status X2(1) = 11.090, P = 0.001, residential address X2 (2) = 11.411, P = 0.003 and duration of nursing practice X2(1) = 4.769, P = 0.029. About 84.8% of nurses started vaccination against hepatitis B and 77.3% completed at least three doses of the vaccination. The only factor with a statistically significant relationship with vaccination completeness status was respondent marital status X2(1) = 8.063, P = 0.005. Conclusion: Nurses' knowledge of hepatitis B was very good. And more than half of the nurses had a negative attitude towards hepatitis B prevention. In terms of vaccination more than three-fourth of them started and completed three doses of hepatitis B vaccination.

Highlights

Chronic hepatitis B infection has over the years increased the cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
More than half of the nurses had a negative attitude towards hepatitis B prevention
There are preventive actions which can be taken by health care workers to prevent and reduce hospital-acquired infections, which include adhering to standard precautions and vaccination against the disease such as hepatitis B [13, 14]

Summary

Introduction

Chronic hepatitis B infection has over the years increased the cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the World Health Organization 2017 report on hepatitis B, there are close to 257 million people who are infected with chronic hepatitis B globally [1]. Low-income countries are overburden with hepatitis B infection accompanied by its progression to the problems of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B is an endemic problem, it accounts for 87890 deaths every year, and 80% of all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma recorded.[4] In Ghana, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection is high (≥ 8%) among the general population, and 11% among pregnant women and in blood donors, and Northern Region is 13.1% [5]. Objectives: To determine Hepatitis B knowledge, attitude, and vaccination status among nurses of Tamale Central Hospital

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion