Knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B infection amongst first MBBS students of KBNIMS Gulbarga

 

Swati Jangam^*, Shilpa N^**

 

^*,**Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, KBNIMS, Gulbarga, Karnataka, INDIA.

Email: docshilpasnandi@gmail.com

 

Abstract               Background: Hepatitis B infection is a contagious disease, having multiple routes of transmission and dreadful complications. Health workers are at more risk of getting infected as they are exposed to sharp instruments, infected body secretions, infected blood and blood products. Medical students are also at risk of getting infected. Hepatitis B infection is preventable and vaccine is also available. If future doctors are aware of hepatitis B infection, its complication and preventive measure they can protect themselves. With this background this study is conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B infection amongst first MBBS students of KBNIMS Gulbarga. Material and Methods: The study included 100 first MBBS students both girls and boys between age group of 18years to 20 years. The students were given Questionnaire containing 15 multiple choice questions on Hepatitis B infection, awareness and about its prevention. Statistical analysis was done using frequencies and percentage. Results: Only 56% knew that HBV is transmitted from infected mother to fetus, 33% knew that it can be transmitted during delivery and only 30% knew that disease is transmitted through breast milk. Tattooing, being one of the important route of transmission, 66% students were unaware about it.7% students have misconception that Hepatitis B is transmitted through mosquito bite. In our study we found that 60 % are not immunized against HBV infection and 53% students believe that mass immunization for hepatitis B is useful Conclusion: As medical students are at risk of HBV infection like other health workers it is important to increase awareness about HBV infection and its preventative measures in I^st MBBS itself.

Key Words: Awareness, Hepatitis B, knowledge, students.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

There are twenty six different infectious agents which are transmitted through occupational exposure during sharp injuries^1,2. Hepatitis B infection is amongst them. Hepatitis B infection is transmitted through multiple routes and leads to dreadful complications. Hepatitis B infection is major health problem worldwide. Health workers are at more risk of getting infected as they are exposed to sharp instruments, infected body secretions, infected blood and blood products³. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), the average number of occupational injuries per health care workers varied region wise (0.2– 4.7 injuries annually) along with the proportion of health care workers in the general population (0.2%–2.5%)^4,5 In India, prevalence of HBsAg among the general population is 2 to 8%^[5].As per one study HBV infection affects approximately two billion people all over world and about 360 million suffer from chronic disease and become a carrier of HBV⁶ Most dreadful complication of HBV infection is carcinoma liver. All over world about 600,000 deaths occur annually due to either HBV-related liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma^7,8 HBV infection accounts for almost 80% of the cases of primary liver carcinoma^9,10 The health care workers are at higher risk due to exposure to contaminated sharp instruments. In developing countries it accounts for about 40 – 60% of occupational HBV infection^1,3 As medical students also come across infected sharp instruments, infected blood, blood products and body fluid samples, they too are at high risk of getting infected. First MBBS students have to perform hematology practical in Physiology, so it is must to create awareness among the students about Hepatitis B infection and also for proper use, reuse and disposal of syringes used in the practical. Important thing about hepatitis B infection is, it is preventable and vaccine is also available. If future doctors are aware of hepatitis B infection, its complication and preventive measure they can protect themselves. With this background this study is conducted to see knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B infection and its prevention amongst first MBBS students of KBNIMS Gulbarga.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Present study was undertaken at department of Physiology KBNIMS, Gulbarga after taking Institutional ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics committee KBNIMS Gulbarga. The study included 100 first MBBS students both girls and boys between age group of 18years to 20 years. The students were given Questionnaire containing 15 multiple choice questions on Hepatitis B infection, awareness and about its prevention. Statistical analysis was done using frequencies and percentage.

RESULTS

Total of 100 students including girls and boys in age group18 years to 20 years were assessed. Results are as follows.

All students knew about hepatitis B infection and 90% of them knew it’s viral disease but only 74% students knew that its contagious disease. Only 43 % students knew that hepatitis B is not curable disease while 37% say that it’s curable and 20% students don’t have idea about it. Regarding transmission of disease: 95% students knew that it’s transmitted by unsafe blood transfusion, 78% students knew that disease is transmitted through unsterile needles and 80% students knew that sharing needles is route of transmission. 92 % students knew that hepatitis B is sexually transmitted disease But about different modes of sexual transmission they have less knowledge. 77% knew about vaginal route, 35% student knew about homosexual route, and only 40% are aware about anal route. Vertical transmission: 56% knew about transmission from infected mother to fetus, 33% knew that it can be transmitted during delivery and only 30% knew that disease is transmitted through breast milk.

Only 34% students knew that tattooing is also route of transmission and17% students have misconception that Hepatitis B is transmitted through mosquito bite. Other routes of transmission answered yes by the students are: Sharing shaving blades (58%), kissing (9%).

82% students believe hepatitis B is preventable by safe blood transfusion, 60 % believe by proper disinfection of infected area and 64% believe by hepatitis B vaccination. Among list of options given for knowledge about disease per se 29% knew it’s occupational hazard for health workers, 20% knew that house hold contacts are at risk, 51% knew about chronic nature of disease,15% knew that jaundice may be absent in patient and 39 % knew that carcinoma liver is dreadful complication of disease. Hepatitis B vaccine and immunization: Only 40 % students have taken hepatitis B vaccine and out of 60% students those who have not taken vaccine most of them were unaware of availability of vaccine and complications of disease and there was lack of motivation and they need not felt to take vaccine. Only 5% were afraid of needle Only 45% students knew that Hepatitis B vaccine is included in child immunization program in India and only 53% students believe that mass immunization for hepatitis B is useful. Students were aware about Hepatitis B infections mostly through social media, community workers and few got knowledge through friends and relatives.

Table 1: Have you heard about Hepatitis B infection?

 

Table 2: What Causes hepatitis B infection?

 

Table 3: Is it contagious?

 

Table 4: Is it curable?

 

 

Table 5: What are modes of transmission of hepatitis B infection?

 

Table 6: Unprotected sex is harmless between two hepatitis B infected persons?

 

Table 7: Hepatitis B is preventable disease?

Table 8: What are different modes of sexual transmission?

Table 9: Hepatitis B can be prevented by?

 

Table 10: Knowledge about the disease

 

Table 11: Have you taken Hepatitis B vaccine

Table 12: Reason for not taking vaccine

 

Table 13: Is mass immunization useful?

 

Table 14: Is hepatitis B vaccine included in child immunization program in India?

 

Table 15: Source of information

DISCUSSION

Many studies are done on hepatitis B infection all over the world^6-12. In India too we have many studies related to prevalence of hepatitis B infection, its transmission, complications and prevention^1,5,13,14,15. In our study we found that almost all knew about causative agent of disease but there is incomplete and inaccurate knowledge about routes of transmission, complications of disease. In our study students carried misconceptions regarding route of transmission of HBV. Only 56% knew that HBV is transmitted from infected mother to fetus, 33% knew that it can be transmitted during delivery and only 30% knew that disease is transmitted through breast milk. Tattooing, being one of the important route of transmission, 66% students were unaware about it and 17% students have misconception that Hepatitis B is transmitted through mosquito bite. Hepatitis B infection is an occupational hazard, but in our study 71 % students are have no idea about it. In a similar study conducted in health care workers, they found that 11% doctors, 18.3% nurses and 19.7% lab technicians were unaware about transmission of Hepatitis B infection¹⁶. We also found that, there is lack of knowledge about prevention of disease and about hepatitis B vaccine. Immunization against Hepatitis B virus helps prevent HBV infection. Although hepatitis B vaccination is included in National immunization program, but in our study we found that 60 % students are not immunized against HBV infection. So it is essential not only to create awareness about prevention of HBV infection amongst future doctors but also to motivate them to get immunized.

 

CONCLUSION

As medical students are at risk of HBV infection like other health workers it is important to increase awareness about HBV infection and its preventative measures in I^st MBBS itself. It can be introduced as part of orientation program.

 

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