Knowledge And Attitudes Concerning Hepatitis B Infection And Prevention Among Residents Of Kaliro Town Council

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is a serious blood-borne disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) which attacks the liver, and is the leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. HBV can be transmitted through exposure to infected blood and human secretions through needle stick / sharps injuries and splashes.

The aim of the study: To investigate the knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B virus test and vaccination among the peoples of Kaliro.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey on 240 people was conducted eight zones of kaliro town council, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire with questions on knowledge and attitudes.

Results: Of 240 questionnaires distributed, 225 people returned completed forms (response rate:

96.7% [29/30]). The majority were females (86.8% [136/240]) and were below 31 years of age (30.1% [93/225]). The majority (87.6% [156/225]) had good knowledge of the causes and prevention of HBV. The unvaccinated respondents had fairly low positive attitudes.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The response rate of the people was similar to the other study findings. There was a significant difference in the response rate among the eight zones of the town council. Industrial area zone and Nakiyanjja zone had very good response rates of 96.7% (29/30) and 95% (38/40), while Bukilindi zone, Budini zone and Kaliro zone had fair response rates of 90% (18/20), 92% (23/25) and 92% (23/25) respectively.

There is one notable trend throughout this analysis of group differences, is that people enrolled at zones; Industrial area and Nakiyanja posted significantly higher scores than their colleagues at other zones across all but one index, indicating that these people are more knowledgeable, have better attitudes, and exhibit better behaviors than many of their peers. However, the lower scores in the other zones could have been limited by the small number of participants especially in Bukilindi zone.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................... i APPROVAL .................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................... v OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS.................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT............................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................... 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 1

1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................... 2

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ................................................................................................... 5

1.3 STUDY OBJECTIVES.................................................................................... 5

1.3.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE............................................................................... 5

1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................. 5

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................................. 6

1.5 STUDY SCOPE ............................................................................................................... 6

1.5.1 GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE.......................................................................................... 6

ix

1.5.2 CONTENT SCOPE ...................................................................................................... 6

1.5.3 TIME SCOPE ............................................................................................................... 6

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................. 6

1.7 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................... 10

2.0. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 10

2.1. KNOWLEDGE & AWARENESS ON HEPATITIS B ..................................................... 10

2.2. ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEPATITIS B AND ITS PREVENTION. ............................ 11

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................... 12

3.0 . METHODOLOGY................................................................. 12

3.1 STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING .................................................................................... 12

3.2. STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................... 12

3.3. STUDY POPULATION .................................................................................................... 12

3.3.1. INCLUSION CRITERIA................................................................................... 12

3.3.2. EXCLUSION CRITERIA .............................................................................................. 12

3.4. SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION ................................................................................ 12

3.5. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE ............................................................................................... 12

3.6. DATA COLLECTION METHOD .................................................................................... 12

3.7. DATA COLLECTION TOOLS ........................................................................................ 12

3.8. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE..................................................................... 12

3.9. QUALITY CONTROL ...................................................................................................... 13

3.10. DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................... 13

3.11. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER FOUR.............................................................................................. 14

4.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS..................................................................................... 14

4.1 RESPONSE RATE ............................................................................................................. 14

4.2 PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ............................................................................................ 14

4.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAMPLE ........................................................................ 14

4.4 DESCRIPTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ABOUT HBV ........................... 16

4.5. DESCRIPTION OF PEOPLE’S ATTITUDE ON HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION. 18

4.5. DESCRIPTION ON THE PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF KALIRO TOWN COUNCIL. .................................................... 19

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................ 22

5.0 DICUSSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION ........................................ 22

5.1 RESPONSE RATE ............................................................................................................. 22

5.2 KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HBV AMONG THE PEOPLE OF KALIRO TOWN COUNCIL

....................................................................................................... 22

5.3 ATTITUDES OF PEOPLE TOWARDS HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION ................ 22

5.4 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 22