Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about the knowledge, perceptions and prevention practices of the French general population with respect to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This article describes this population’s knowledge of HBV, their perceptions of the disease, and associated screening and vaccination practices. It compares these indicators with those observed in the same population for HIV, an infection with a chronic course and transmission modes resembling those of HBV.MethodsA module on hepatitis B was added into the HIV KABP (Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices) survey which was carried out telephonically in 2010 among a random sample of 9,014 individuals aged between 18–69 and living in metropolitan France.ResultsCompared with HIV, the general population was less aware that needle exchange during intravenous drug use and sexual relationships are HBV transmission modes (HBV: 89.9% and 69.7%; HIV: 99.1% and 99.4%). The fear of both illnesses was similar at 20.3%. The individual perceived risk of infection was higher for HBV than for HIV with, respectively, 60.8% and 40.3% of respondents believing they had an equal or greater risk of being infected than the average person. However, the percentage of those reporting HBV screening during their lifetime (27.4%) was half that for HIV screening (61.4%). In multivariate analysis, HBV screening was reported more often by individuals born in areas with high HBV endemicity (OR = 2.1 [95% CI: 1.5-2.9]) than by those born in low HBV endemicity areas, and more often by those who reported they had taken drugs intravenously during their lifetime (OR = 2.2 [95% CI: 1.2-4.2]) than those who did not report such behavior. Almost one in two respondents (47%) reported HBV vaccination. The intermediate or high endemicity groups did not report vaccination more often than those born in low endemicity areas nor did those reporting intravenously drug use compared with those who did not.ConclusionsThis study highlights very contrasting levels of knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding HBV and HIV in the French general population. Our results demonstrate the need to improve the general and high-risk populations’ knowledge of HBV, in particular concerning sexual transmission, in order to improve screening and vaccination practices.
Highlights
Little is known about the knowledge, perceptions and prevention practices of the French general population with respect to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection
The data collected for hepatitis B, just as those collected for HIV/AIDS, focused on the interviewed person’s knowledge of transmission modes, perceptions and fears regarding these infections, knowledge of someone in his/her circle of family or friends being infected by HBV or HIV, and whether he/she had been screened for HBV or HIV or vaccinated against HBV
89.9% knew that HBV can be transmitted by needle-sharing while taking drugs, 79.1% that transmission can occur during pregnancy and 69.7% that transmission can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse (Table 2)
Summary
Little is known about the knowledge, perceptions and prevention practices of the French general population with respect to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This article describes this population’s knowledge of HBV, their perceptions of the disease, and associated screening and vaccination practices. HBV screening and vaccination are recommended for those at highest risk, notably sexual partners, close family and friends of HBV-infected individuals (whether acute or chronic), people who have multi-partner sexual relationships, migrants originating from areas with a high level of endemicity, parenteral drug users, health professionals, and others [6,7,8]. Screening has been obligatory for pregnant women since 1992 [9], and vaccination has been recommended for infants since 1995 with a catchup vaccination recommended for children and adolescents [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
