The effect of knowledge on risk perception for Hepatitis b infection among housekeepers in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Risk perceptions are central to many theories of health behavior and consistent relationships have been demonstrated between risk perceptions and relevant health behaviors (1, 2). Studies have identified knowledge and prior screening as potent predictors of risk perception for Hepatitis B infection among doctors and nurses (3). Housekeepers, like other health workers, have occupational exposure to hepatitis B infection but are less often studied and are thus often overlooked during control efforts for occupational exposures (4). The aim of this study was to identify potent predictors of risk perception for hepatitis B infection among housekeepers. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional hospital-based study of 89 consenting hospital cleaners was conducted in Nigeria. A 58-item validated questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.82) was used to assess participants’ characteristics, knowledge and risk perception for hepatitis B infection. Multivariate logistic regression using the backward elimination technique was used to assess the effect of knowledge on risk perception for hepatitis B infection while controlling for other covariates (age, sex, work experience, level of education, and prior HBsAg screening). Risk perception was dichotomized to low and high. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The mean (hepatitis B infection) knowledge score was 4.24 ± 3.69 (range = 0-12 out of 26). Majority (89.9%) of the participants had poor knowledge (scores < 9) while the remaining 10.1% had fair knowledge about hepatitis B infection (scores 9-13). Fifty-eight (65.2%), 12 (13.5%), and 19 (21.3%) of the participants reported low, moderate, and high risk perception for hepatitis B infection respectively. The best model for predicting risk perception at P < 0.05) contained only total knowledge score (Pseudo R2 = 10.24). Area under the ROC curve was 70.91%, showing good discrimination. The odds ratio was 1.25 (95% CI = 1.09-1.43). Prior HbsAg screening was not a predictor of risk perception for hepatitis B infection. Conclusion: Risk perception is predicted by knowledge about hepatitis B infection. The housekeepers had poorer knowledge and low risk perception for hepatitis B infection when compared with other health workers. There is a need for targeted strategies to improve housekeepers’ knowledge about hepatitis B infection.