Knowledge, attitude and prevalence of hepatitis B virus among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional, hospital-based study in Bamenda Health District, NWR, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a bloodborne virus which can be transmitted via percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to infected body fluid. Healthcare workers (HCWs) who are continuously exposed to different body fluids are at an increased risk of contracting and transmitting this virus. It is thus important to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of HCWs towards HBV and the prevalence of HBV infection among them. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out between April and September 2017. Overall, 398 HCWs were recruited for this study. Knowledge on the route of HBV transmission and attitude towards HBV were evaluated using a well-structured questionnaire. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was obtained using the Monolisa HBsAg ULTRA kit (Bio-Rad). Data were analysed using SPSS V.20. results Among the HCWs who participated in this study, 338 (84.9%) had heard of HBV, and 269 (67.6%) of them had adequate knowledge on the route of HBV transmission. Medical doctors were the most knowledgeable among biomedical workers and students (76.5%). The rate of stigma was highest among nurses (87, 38.8%). The prevalence of HBsAg positivity was high (42, 10.6%) given that there is an efficient and available vaccine. Overall, over 70% of HCWs invited to participate in this study responded. Conclusion Knowledge on the route of HBV transmission was fair, and the level of stigmatisation of HBV-infected patients and the prevalence of HBV infection were high in this study. A sensitisation campaign should be carried out to educate HCWs on HBV, thus reducing the level of stigma associated with HBV as well as the probability of contracting HBV as a nosocomial infection.

Information Sources, Knowledge and Practice Towards HIV/ Hepatitis B Co-Infection In Lagos, Nigeria

“…It was also discovered that Lagos residents, fear the cost of HBV/HIV co-infection treatment more than they fear the possibility of death due to the co-infection. This aligns with Akazong, et al [39] who stated that a reason for the negative attitude of some healthcare workers towards HBV patients could be due to the vaccine being costly.…”

“…This is in line with a study done on medicine and health science students in University of Gondar, Ethiopia, which found that about 75% of them have a good attitude towards the treatment and control of HBV; and 82.1% have no issue with treating HBV-positive patients [38]. In another study, it was discovered that 67.8% of healthcare workers in Cameroon have a positive attitude towards HBV-positive patients [39]. On the contrary, a study done on the attitudes of dentists towards patients with these diseases, was found to be negative; with 73% of dentists not being willing to treat patients who are HIV-positive [40].…”

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices toward Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Students of Medicine in Vietnam

“…Stigma and lack of knowledge have been acknowledged as significant barriers to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection [ 25 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Negative attitudes toward HBV infection and unwillingness to provide care for CHB patients has been well documented in previous studies among medical students and HCWs in Vietnam, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other countries [ 10 , 25 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. These studies also pointed out that students’ attitude is positively correlated with their mean knowledge scores [ 10 , 36 ] and the level of willingness is significantly associated with their confidence in protecting themselves against infection.…”

Capacity building of healthcare workers: Key step towards elimination of viral hepatitis in developing countries

“…This findings of the present study were supported by a study from Ethiopia, which indicating good knowledge but poor practice related to HBV, which resulted in intermediate prevalence of HBV in Ethiopian HCWs [ 38 ]. Another study from Cameroon reported that despite the presence of good knowledge, high prevalence of HBsAg positivity was observed among HCWs [ 39 ]. Thus, it is equally important to have good knowledge as well as follow good medical practices for reducing the burden of viral hepatitis among HCWs.…”