KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF HEPATITIS B INFECTION PREVENTION AMONG 400 LEVEL NURSING STUDENTS IN B.I.U, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

Infectious diseases, those caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are among the most significant threats to public health across the globe especially among healthcare professionals. This study assessed the knowledge and attitude of hepatitis B infection prevention among 400 level nursing students of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 111 respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.The findings revealed that overall knowledge of HBV prevention was 63.7% which indicates a moderate level of understanding. Although most respondents correctly identified HBV as viral, knew its major transmission routes and acknowledged the availability of vaccines, fewer recognized clinical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Attitudes were moderately positive with a grand mean of 3.12 as many acknowledged HBV as a serious health problem and accepted their occupational risk, although fewer supported regular screening or trusted infection control guidelines. Preventive practices were more encouraging at 77.5% overall, with most respondents vaccinated and using sterile instruments, yet only a few consistently practiced safe behaviors during clinical postings. Influencing factors were largely external, as 98.2% cited lack of materials, 92.8% fear of stigmatization, and 86.5% the influence of senior nurses, compared to only 27.0% who cited knowledge. Hypothesis testing showed a significant relationship between age and knowledge (χ²=13.521, p=0.001) and between knowledge and practice (χ²=54.352, p

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urn:uuid:cc1cc106-4954-4d1a-9ffc-e5470e876ceb