Knowledge, attitude, and practice on hepatitis B and C among adult residents in an urban community in Imphal West, Manipur

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis is a serious public health problem. The number of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers in India accounts for 10%–15% of the entire pool of HBV carriers of the world. Hepatitis C is an emerging infection in India whose long-term implications will be felt in the decades to come. Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of hepatitis B and C among adult residents in an urban community in Imphal West and to assess the association between knowledge and selected variables of interest like age, sex, etc. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as mean, median, standard deviation, and percentages were used. Chi-square test was used to determine association. Data analysis was done using SPSS IBM version 16. Results: Majority of the respondents (94.6%) had ever heard of hepatitis B, but only half of the total respondents had ever heard of hepatitis C. 55.1% of respondents had inadequate knowledge. Adequate knowledge was significantly associated with older (>50 years) age, male sex, higher education level, being employed, and being vaccinated against hepatitis B. Attitudes toward the disease and toward those who are infected were mostly positive. The level of vaccination against hepatitis B was found to be low. Conclusion: The study showed the need to improve public awareness of both hepatitis B and C to contribute to the improvement of screening and vaccination process.