Kap Study of Hepatitis B and C among the Patients Attending the O.P.D of Nishtar Hospital, Multan-Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of adult patients & their attendants in relation to hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Setting: Outpatient department of Nishtar Hospital.

Study period: 17th June, 2013 to 24th June, 2013.

Method: This was an observational, cross-sectional study in which data was collected through a close ended questionnaire from the patients and their attendants presenting in the outpatient department of Nishtar Hospital during the period of the study.

Results: data was collected from 340 respondents. 79% of the respondents claimed to know about hepatitis B & C; however, only 38% had knowledge about the transmission of these diseases and only 37% knew of the preventive measures. Knowledge among the young and middle aged individuals was relatively higher than the elderly. The people belonging to the rich social class had the highest ratio of well-informed individuals as compared to the middle and poor social classes. Similarly, knowledge among the literate proportion was two times higher as compared to the illiterate population. Only 21% of the respondents had received immunization against these diseases.

Conclusion: The proportion of the population having sufficient knowledge and immunization against hepatitis B 84 C is very low.

Keywords: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, knowledge, immunization

Type of Study: Original Research Paper