ISSN : 2663-2187

Assessment of Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hepatitis B infection and immunization status among nursing students at University of Tabuk- Saudi Arabia

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Khaldoon Aied Alnawafleh : Shalabia.Abozead : Hamida Alam Eldeen: Moneefah Albalawi: Smaier Alhweiti: Raghad Alqarni: Lama Alshehri, Ohoud Alatawi: Rana Alenzi
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.13.2024. 589-610

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization wants to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030, and one of the main obstacles to achieving this objective appears to be a lack of broad awareness about the illness. The purpose of this study was to assess Tabouk University nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Subjects and Method: This research is a cross-sectional. On designated occasions, students were invited to the department to receive a hepatitis B vaccination and raise awareness. With the use of an online self-administered questionnaire, their KAP was evaluated. When comparing subgroups pairwise, the chi-square test was utilized. Lasso regression and logistic regression were employed to examine the factors that influenced KAP's knowledge of HBV. A structural equation model was developed to investigate the connections between HBV's KAP. Results: more than half of students had a good level of knowledge (50.3%) with higher mean score (M = 25.6, SD = 1.6, P = .001*). Students' attitudes about the Hepatitis B virus were categorized as "unfavorable" (86.8%) and "favorable" (13.2%) based on the total attitude scale categories and the students' practices regarding the Hepatitis B virus were categorized as "unfavorable" (45.7%) and "favorable" (54.3%) based on the total practice scale categories. The findings showed that nursing students' attitudes and practices are impacted by their knowledge of the Hepatitis-B virus (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.5 – 14.9 & OR: 12.2, 95% CI: 5.6 - 26.4). Additionally, the nursing students' attitudes and practices were positively correlated with their knowledge of the Hepatitis-B virus (Co. =.361, R =.896 & Co. =.735, R =.718). Conclusion: The University of Tabouk nursing students were still far from having a thorough understanding of HBV treatment and prevention. It is recommended that college and university officials focus more on educating students about HBV and use multi-channel preventive and management strategies.

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