Health workers’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards Hepatitis B infection in Northern Nigeria

Fufore, MB; Cook, PA; Kirfi, AM

Abstract

Background: Infection by hepatitis B virus is one of the many challenges in public health today and the tenth leading cause of mortality worldwide. Research has shown that health-care personnel are at higher risk of acquiring the disease than the general population.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice among health workers towards hepatitis B infection in Northern Nigeria.
Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey with self-administered questionnaire to gather information from an Ear, Nose and Throat health-care professionals in a tertiary hospital in Northern Nigeria. The data collected was coded and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.
Results: A similar numbers of males, 49.5% (53/107), and females, 50.5% (54/107) took part. The overall correctly answered knowledge questions by the professions was 76.9%. A one-way ANOVA between participants showed that there were significant difference between the profession
groups in terms of knowledge scores (F4, 102 = 11.5, P< 0.001) and in terms of practice scores between the groups (F4, 102 = 4.1, P<0.01); however, there was no significant difference in attitude between the professional groups (F4, 102 = 0.6, P= 0.68). Multivariate analysis showed that health attendants had the best practice score and did not differ significantly to Doctors (β = −0.1, t =−0.9, P= 0.40).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is a gap in knowledge and lack of compliance to infection control and preventive measures among health-care professionals. There should be an increased in awareness through campaigns geared towards educating health-care personnel on the dangers of hepatitis B infection.
Keywords: Health care workers, Hepatitis B infection, prevention and control, Knowledge, attitude
and practice, Developing countries

Citation

Fufore, M., Cook, P., & Kirfi, A. (2016). Health workers’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards Hepatitis B infection in Northern Nigeria. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 9(3), 955-965

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 3, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 3, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Caring Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1791-5201
• Electronic ISSN: 1792-037X
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 955-965
• Publisher URL: http://www.internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/docs/23_furore_originial_9_3_3.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://www.internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/