EFFECT OF GENDER AND AGE ON THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES REGARDING HEPATITIS B AND C AND VACCINATION STATUS OF HEPATITIS B AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF GANDHI MEDICAL COLLEGE, BHOPAL
Main Article Content
Keywords
.
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding Hepatitis B & C among medical students and to estimate the vaccination status for hepatitis B among the students.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Gandhi Medical College. Convenient sampling was used to collect the information. Questionnaire regarding awareness about prevention, transmission, diagnosis, treatment and vaccination availability for hepatitis B and C was completed from each individual via peer reviewed google forms. In addition, vaccination status of hepatitis B and the awareness of students regarding post exposure prophylaxis was also documented.
Results: A total of 303 students participated in this study. Participants in age group 18-20 years old were 141(46.5%) and the rest were in 21 years old and above. Female participants were 143(47%).
97% of younger age group and 90% of older age group agreed that if someone who appears healthy be a patient. 56% males; whereas only 41% females aware of the CDC guidelines of WHO for health care workers regarding Hep B. 71% males and 82% females agreed if they actively encouraged their fellow medical students to get vaccinated against hep B. 80% males and 89% females gave their opinion that hepatitis B vaccination should be included as a mandatory requirement for medical school admission. 76% participants from younger age group and 85% from older age group said that they ask their hairdresser to use new blades for shaving or hair cutting. 79% males and females responded that they cover any open wounds or cuts to prevent exposure to hepatitis B. 67% males whereas only 20% females responded that they participated in health education program related to Hepatitis B. 59% participants from younger age group and 64% from older age group reported that they were completely vaccinated (3 doses) for hepatitis B. Around 50% of the students reported that they have had needle pricks in their students’ career.
Conclusion: The overall Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of studied group showed satisfactory outcomes. However, some areas of attitude and practices showed the need to work upon with the students.
References
2. Khan N, Ahmed SM, Khalid MM, Siddiqui SH, Merchant AA. Effect of gender and age on the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hepatitis B and C and vaccination status of hepatitis B among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc [Internet]. 2010 [cited 2023 Jun 23];60(6):450–5. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20527642/
3. El-Sallamy RM, Atlam SA, Kabbash I, El-Fatah SA, El-Flaky A. Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards ergonomics among undergraduates of Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2023 Jun 23];25(31):30793–801. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28233207/
4. Setia S, Gambhir R, Kapoor V, Jindal G, Garg S, Setia S. Attitudes and awareness regarding hepatitis B and hepatitis C amongst health-care workers of a tertiary hospital in India. Ann Med Health Sci Res [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Jun 23];3(4):551–8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24380007/
5. Brief R in. Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations1 [Internet]. Immunize.org. [cited 2023 Jun 23]. Available from: https://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2017.pdf
6. Mohsen F, Shibani M, Ibrahim N, Alhourani G, Melhem S, Alzabibi MA, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HIV, HBV, and HCV among medical students of Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria. Community Health Equity Res Policy [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 23];43(2):161–70. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33823689/
7. Mesfin YM, Kibret KT. Assessment of knowledge and practice towards hepatitis B among medical and health science students in Haramaya University, Ethiopia. PLoS One [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Jun 23];8(11):e79642. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24278151/
8. Hepatitis B [Internet]. Who.int. [cited 2023 Jun 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Stephen Nand
Department of Pharmacology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, M.P.
Amruthadevi T.S.
Department of Pharmacology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, M.P.
J. L. Marko
Department of Pharmacology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, M.P.