ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS HEPATITIS B VIRAL INFECTION AMONG STUDENTS OF AGEW MIDIR GENERAL SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL, ENJIBARA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Hepatitis B is blood born liver infection caused by hepatitis B virus. It is the tenth leading cause of death among all diseases worldwide and the fifth leading cause of death from infectious disease worldwide, surpassed only by lower respiratory tract infections, diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis Objective: To assess knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Hepatitis B viral infection among students of Agew midir general secondary and preparatory school Method: Institution based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among students of AMGSPS, in July 2018. The study population were selected among students of the school, with a sample size of 291 students. Data was collected by using self-administered, structured and pre tested questionnaire. Data was cleaned, coded and entered into computer and analyzed using SPSS version 21. The degree of association between dependent and independent variables was analyzed by logistic regression. Result: A total of 291 students were interviewed with a response rate of 97.2%, among them 52.9% had good knowledge, 86.9% had positive attitude and only 3.9% had good practice towards hepatitis B. The knowledge of the respondents was found to be significantly associated with their academic performance but attitude and practice has no association with any of the sociodemographic factors and knowledge of the study participants. Conclusion: KAP of the study participants is poor which shows that Hepatitis B virus is a going to be a big burden for the coming generation. Recommendation: It is good to include literatures about Hepatitis B in the educational curriculum of the country in a studied and feasible way. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Hepatitis B, students of general secondary and preparatory school