Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is endemic in Nigeria and constitutes a public health concern. In-School adolescents in Ogun State indulge in practices which have potentials for putting them at risk of HBV infection. However, their cognitive factors and preventive practices relating to Hepatitis B infections among them are yet to be fully explored systematically.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 students recruited through the multistage sampling process. The respondents were drawn from junior and senior arms in four public secondary schools in Ogun State. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to facilitate data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data on socio-demographic characteristics, as well as data on Hepatitis B related knowledge and prevention practices. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between Hepatitis B knowledge and prevention practices.
Results: The participants’ mean knowledge score was 16.4±4.4, and 79.3% (238) had fair knowledge of HBV infection, while 94.7% (284) had in appropriate HBV preventive practices. Only 6.7% (20.1) had been vaccinated against HBV. No significant relationship was found between knowledge of HBV and adoption of prevention practices among the participants (r=0.06; p=0.30).
Conclusion: The fair knowledge of the infection implies that there are some gaps in the participants’ knowledge relating to Hepatitis B infection. An appreciable proportion of the respondents were vulnerable to HBV due to poor uptake of the HBV vaccine and involvement in practices that can put them at risk of the infection. Educational interventions and advocacy are needed to address these concerns.
Keyword: In-school Adolescents, Hepatitis B infection Cognitive factors, Preventive practices.
Résumé
Contexte: L’infection par le virus de l’hépatite B est endémique au Nigéria et constitue un problème de santé publique. Les adolescents scolarisés de l’État d’Ogun se livrent à des pratiques susceptibles de les exposer à un risque d’infection par le VHB. Cependant, leurs facteurs cognitifs et leurs pratiques préventives liées aux infections par l’hépatite B parmi eux doivent encore être complètement explorés de manière systématique.
Méthodes: Une enquête transversale descriptive a été menée auprès de 300 étudiants recrutés dans le cadre du processus d’échantillonnage à plusieurs degrés. Les personnes interrogées provenaient des classes juniors et seniors de quatre écoles secondaires publiques de l’État d’Ogun. Un questionnaire auto-administré pré-testé a été utilisé pour faciliter la collecte de données. Des statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour analyser les données sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, ainsi que les données sur les connaissances et les pratiques de prévention liées à
l’hépatite B. Le coefficient de corrélation de Pearson a été utilisé pour déterminer la relation entre les connaissances sur l’hépatite B et les pratiques de prévention.
Résultats: Le score de connaissance moyen des participants était de 16,4 ± 4,4 et 79,3% (238) avaient une bonne connaissance de l’infection par le VHB, tandis que 94,7% (284) avaient des pratiques préventives appropriées contre le VHB. Seulement 6,7% (20,1) avaient été vaccinés contre le VHB. Aucune relation significative n’a été trouvée entre la connaissance du VHB et l’adoption de pratiques de prévention chez les participants (r = 0,06; p = 0,30).
Conclusion: la bonne connaissance de l’infection implique qu’il existe des lacunes dans les connaissances des participants concernant l’hépatite B. Une proportion appréciable des répondants étaient vulnérables au VHB en raison de la faible utilisation du vaccin contre le VHB et de leur implication dans des pratiques qui peuvent les exposer à un risque d’infection. Des interventions éducatives et un plaidoyer sont nécessaires pour répondre à ces préoccupations.
Mot clés: Adolescents scolarisés, hépatite B, facteurs cognitifs, pratiques préventives.
Correspondence: Olaoye T, Department of Public Health, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Nigeria. Email: olaoyet@babcock.edu.ng
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