Awareness of Hepatitis B Infection in Jeddah Population of Saudi Arabia

Sanaa Alattas,

Published on: 2020-08-04

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major problem worldwide that causes chronic liver disease and may lead either to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer and causing death. The aim of the present work was to study the awareness of general public about the HBV infection among Saudi population in Jeddah city. Study was conducted based on survey (questionnaire). Data of age, sex, marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed), education (primary, middle, high school, university) and occupation (employed, unemployed, healthcare, student etc.) was collected during the period from 25 Nov 2017 to 10 Feb 2018 from the participants (n: 5106; age range: 21-36 years). The z score test was applied for the comparison of percentage values. The p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed highly significant variations for the participants having little or more knowledge (65.35%) compared to those with no knowledge (34.65%) about HBV infection. Significant variation for age, various levels of education, and existence, contagiousness, vaccine protection and treatment of HBV infection was found between those having awareness and those not having awareness of HBV infection. Quite high percent of participants (75.09 %) in the current study thought that there might be a vaccine for prevention against hepatitis B virus. Considering the results in the present survey report, it is recommended that the general public should have awareness about their life style interventions especially by decreasing the risk factors that may lead to better healthy life with fewer complications. It also seems equally essential to have training programs at the governmental level to provide awareness and general knowledge to masses about healthcare, hygiene and disease. Further surveys studied are needed with this perspective to have idea about the attitudes of people about HBV and related infections that might help the general public to have knowledge and awareness of HBV infection, and better health care.

scroll up