Publication:

Knowledge and vaccination status on hepatitis B among the students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health problem as well as in Bangladesh. The most common liver disease in Bangladesh is viral hepatitis. Bangladesh is an intermediate endemic zone for hepatitis B virus infection. Research shows that about 10 million people in Bangladesh have been suffering from hepatitis B.

Methods The research was a cross-sectional survey and appropriate statistical formula was used to select 341 respondents randomly. The data were collected through a pre-designed, pre-structured questionnaire, which was distributed among the students. All the data was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2013.

Results Most of the respondent 95% knew about hepatitis B and about 87% knew that it is a viral infection. About 69% students respond that hepatitis B can increase liver cancer. Among the respondents, 76% supported that hepatitis B can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Most of the students 82% supported blood transfusion as a causative factor and 67% informed that jaundice is the major sign and symptoms of hepatitis B. More than half of the students 53% reported that they were vaccinated for hepatitis B. The major reasons for not taking vaccination were lack of free time and lack of feeling of necessity for vaccination.

Conclusions The overall knowledge and vaccination status on hepatitis B virus was not satisfactory. Different types of seminars and campaigns on hepatitis B, arranged by university will help to increase the student’s level of knowledge on hepatitis B.