ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS PREVENTION METHODS AMONG ADULT PEOPLE IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA: COMMUNITY BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Abstract Background-Infection by Hepatitis viruses especially Hepatitis B& C, leads to slow progressive liver disease that over a period of less than 30 years may result in liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These viruses are prevalent in different parts of the world including Ethiopia. But, their prevalence differs from one place to other and this difference in prevalence directly proportional to the level of communities’ awareness, perception and prevention towards the disease. The objective of this study was to determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards Hepatitis virus prevention Method among adult population of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methodology-Community based cross-sectional study conducted among Adult population residing in all sub-cities of Addis Ababa using multi-stage sampling techniques. Charts, Frequency tables and graphs were used to present the proportion of the results and its pattern. Analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0. Result- Out of 634 distributed questionnaires; all were returned with a response rate of 100.0%. Four hundred and sixty-nine (74.0%) respondents were female with mean age of 36.09 years. One hundred and seventy six (27.8%) had secondary level of education and 335 (52.8%) were unemployed. Significant impacts of knowledge-attitude over practice status towards hepatitis disease prevention methods were observed. Over all the current study shows inadequate knowledge proportion of 61.7% (Mean of 10.10), proportion of negative attitude 93.2% (Mean of 1.65) and bad practice proportion of 93.7% (Mean of 2.69) towards hepatitis disease prevention methods among adult people in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Discussion and conclusion- The association between knowledge-attitude over practice level reaffirms that better knowledge together with positive attitude can subsequently lead to good practices. This will further help in prevention and management of Hepatitis disease. Therefore, extensive health educational campaign should be provided to general population and the country needs to formulate policy and strategies in the areas of disease surveillance, risk group identification and screening. Adapting a recommended diagnostic and treatment algorithm of viral hepatitis in the routine healthcare systems and implementing prevention and control policies in the general population needs an urgent attention. Improving availability of data on viral hepatitis, access to low-cost generic drugs is also critical.