Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Hepatitis B among two rural communities of the Anglophone regions in Cameroon

Abstract

Viral hepatitis, especially those caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), represents a worldwide significant cause of morbidity and mortality affecting about 2 billion people worldwide. Prevention against hepatitis B (HB) is proportional to the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the people. This study seeks to assess the KAP towards HB in two rural areas of the Anglophone regions in Cameroon from the May 2014 of January 2015 using pre-designed and pre-tested, semi- structured questionnaire. Any correct or positive answers was given one point and zero for a no or negative answer. The response rate was 612 (87.4%). This study revealed that mean (SD) KAP was 14.4(3.7%), 4.7(1.1%) and 3.8(1.2%) respectively. Thus majority of the respondents had low knowledge 354(57.9%), high positive attitude 334(54.6%) and low poor practice 149(24.3%) regarding HB. Excellent knowledge was expressed only by 38(6.2%) respondents. A univariate analysis of Knowledge, showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in place, sex, age group, occupation, level of education and monthly income while for attitude a significant difference (p<0.05) was seen only in place and for practices a significant difference (p<0.05) was seen in the place, marital status, occupation, level of education and monthly income. A linear correlation revealed a non significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=-0.003, p = 0.12), a significantly positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r =0.28, p = 0.00) and a significantly positive correlation in attitude and Practice (r =0.27, p = 0.00).