Knowledge Gaps & Attitudes Hamper Hepatitis B & C Prevention Efforts, New Study Finds
A new analysis reveals significant disparities in knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding hepatitis B and C viruses, highlighting the critical need for targeted public health interventions. Understanding these factors is paramount to reducing transmission rates and improving global health outcomes.
Demographic Skew in Study Population
The recent study, involving 398 participants, revealed a significant gender imbalance, with 58 individuals (15.1%) identifying as male and the vast majority – 340, or 84.9% – identifying as female. Researchers attribute this to the study’s inclusion of healthcare settings primarily frequented by women, such as labor and delivery, immunization, and antenatal care wards. The average age of participants was 26.1 years (± 5.5), indicating a concentration of younger adults, coinciding with the typical onset of reproductive age around 15 years.
Global Knowledge Disparities Highlight Education’s Role
While approximately half of the participants demonstrated “good knowledge” of hepatitis B and C, mirroring findings from a study in Saudi Arabia (50.5%), levels varied dramatically when compared internationally. Knowledge levels were substantially lower in Cameroon (22.1%), among sub-Saharan immigrants (15%), in Ethiopia (25%), Pakistan (23.6%), and Malaysia (38.8%). “These differences are strongly linked to variations in educational attainment,” researchers found. The study reported an illiteracy rate of 26%, significantly lower than rates observed in Cameroon (48.4%) and among sub-Saharan African immigrants (75.4%).
Further analysis identified educational level and a history of hospital admission as statistically significant factors associated with knowledge. This aligns with research from Cameroon, Pakistan, and sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing the crucial role of education in enhancing health literacy. Exposure to healthcare settings through hospital admissions also appears to improve understanding of the viruses, likely through increased access to information and personal experiences.
Attitudes Lag Behind Knowledge, Influenced by Education & Location
Despite relatively higher knowledge levels, attitudes toward hepatitis B and C were less positive, with only 180 participants (47%, 95% CI: 41.8–52) expressing a favorable outlook. This figure was lower than reported in Cameroon (54.6%) and Gambia (70%), but higher than in Ghana (33%) and Pakistan (21.8%). The researchers suggest the larger participant pool in their study, coupled with a lower illiteracy rate (26% compared to 56.4% in Ghana), contributed to the more favorable, though still less than ideal, attitude score.
Both participants’ education level and residency were statistically associated with their attitudes. Similar findings have emerged from research involving sub-Saharan immigrants, as well as studies in Jordan and Ghana. However, other studies in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Cameroon point to residency as a more significant factor, suggesting that access to healthcare, cultural influences, and local educational initiatives play a key role in shaping community perceptions.
Prevention Practices Fall Short, Driven by Attitude
The study revealed that 45.2% of participants (173 individuals, 95% CI: 40–50.4) demonstrated good prevention practices, while a concerning 54.8% (210 individuals, 95% CI: 49.6–60) exhibited poor practices. These rates were notably higher than those reported in Cameroon (24.3%), among sub-Saharan immigrants (33.4%), Pakistan (33.1%), and Ethiopia (37.6%). Again, differences in educational levels appear to be a key driver, with the study’s 26% illiteracy rate contrasting sharply with 48.4% in Cameroon and 75.4% among sub-Saharan immigrants.
Crucially, the study found that participants’ attitudes toward hepatitis B and C were the only statistically significant factor associated with their prevention practices. This finding is consistent with research from Cameroon and among sub-Saharan immigrants, and is supported by studies in Ethiopia and Pakistan, which demonstrate that positive attitudes are essential for fostering engagement in preventative measures. Negative perceptions, conversely, can significantly hinder effective prevention efforts.
