Benue State University, Makurdi

Knowledge and Vaccine Preventive Behaviour for Hepatitis B Infection among Rural People of Ukum, Benue State Nigeria

AKPENPUUN, Joyce Rumuna^*
WAROH, Nguavese Joya^*
OBANDE, Elizabeth N. Obimbua^*
ABODA, Bilkisu Musa^*

Abstract

The incidence and prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection and diseases related to it is on the increase and accounts for significant number of deaths worldwide and in Nigeria. Knowledge and vaccine prevention of the infection could greatly reduce the incidence of morbidities and mortality induced by the virus. Thus, this study explored knowledge and vaccine preventive behaviour for hepatitis B infection among rural people of Ukum, Benue State Nigeria. The study specifically assessed the level of knowledge on mode of transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in the communities and investigated screening and vaccination status of community members. The study anchored on Anderson behavioural model of health service utilization. Survey research was adopted and multistage sampling was used to select 440 respondents for the study. Questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions guide were used to generate data for the study. The generated data were analyzed with the aid of SPSS (version23.0) and manual content analysis. Findings revealed that 60.1% of respondents have low level of knowledge on mode of transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in the study area. 70.2% of respondents were not screened for the infection and 89.0% of respondents were not vaccinated. The study recommends that the government should design health programmesto sensitize people in rural communities on hepatitis B infection, its mode of transmission and vaccine preventive measures. The Government at all levels and non- governmental organizations willing to help people in rural communities should also sponsor for free screening of the infection in rural communities and also make adequate provision of vaccine services for the three series of doses required for prevention of the infection for those who may screen and be found none reactive to the disease and for those who the virus may be detected in their blood samples, they should be encouraged to commence treatment at subsidized cost of treatment.

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE (CLICK)