Correlates of hepatitis B awareness and disease-specific knowledge among pregnant women in Northern and Central Uganda: a cross-sectional study
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hepatology, medicine and policy
Abstract
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a high hepatitis B burden also have limited resources to identify
underlying drivers of disease among key at-risk populations. To improve prioritization and strengthen prevention of
mother to child transmission of HBV, it is imperative to understand disease awareness, knowledge and related
factors among pregnant women.
Objectives: This study assessed HBV disease awareness, knowledge and related factors among pregnant women in
public health facilities in two regions with diverse HBV disease epidemiology.
Methods: From October 2016 through December 2017, a random sample of 455 pregnant women attending
antenatal clinics were surveyed to assess HBV awareness, knowledge and associated factors. Participants responded
to an 18-item questionnaire with themes on HBV awareness, knowledge of disease signs and symptoms,
transmission, prevention and misconceptions about the disease. Results were analysed in STATA (version 14.0).
Results: Of 455 participants enrolled, about two thirds reported having heard about HBV disease. By region, nearly
half (47%) of participants from the central region, compared to only 16% from the north, reported that they had
never heard of HBV. Region of residence had a moderating effect on the education- HBV awareness relationship.
Only 162/455 (36%) of participants had adequate HBV knowledge. More than half 256/455 (56%) and 242/455 (53%)
were not knowledgeable about horizontal and mother to child HBV transmission, respectively. About two thirds
298/455 (66%) and 281/455 (62%) believed HBV was spread via sharing of utensils and mosquito bites respectively.
In multiple regression analysis, residing in the north, (PR=1.91(1.53 -2.38), p < 0.001) compared to central region and
having a secondary education (PR=1.87(1.37 -2.55), p < 0.001) compared to primary were statistically significantly
related to being knowledgeable about HBV.
Conclusion: We demonstrated marked regional differences in HBV disease awareness and knowledge in this high
HBV prevalence setting. However, most pregnant women displayed unacceptably low HBV knowledge and a
significant proportion still hold misconceptions about HBV. Interventions to improve HBV prevention through
antenatal education will need to be tailored to existing differences in comprehensive HBV knowledge.
Description
Keywords
Hepatitis B, Awareness, Knowledge, Pregnant Women
Citation
Nankya-Mutyoba, J., Aizire, J., Makumbi, F., Atuyambe, L., Ocama, P., & Kirk, G. D. (2018). Correlates of hepatitis B awareness and disease-specific knowledge among pregnant women in Northern and Central Uganda: a cross-sectional study. Hepatology, medicine and policy, 3(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41124-018-0043-6