Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Humanities, Center for Medicine and Society, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany | [b] Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University College of Ghana, Sunyani, Ghana | [c] Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana | [d] Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand | [e] Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana | [f] Laboratory Services Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Emmanuel Kumah, Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. E-mail: ababiohemmanuel@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health problem, with significant morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic complications. Increasing awareness and improving knowledge of HBV helps reduce the risk of the disease. Although many studies have been conducted on HBV in Ghana, few have focused on examining knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among adolescents towards the disease. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to assess HBV knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among adolescents in high schools in the Asante Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 398 adolescents from six senior high schools within the Asante Mampong Municipality. Data was collected using a 30-item structured questionnaire. Each item had two response options: “Yes” and “No”. A scoring system was generated and respondents were given a score on each item answered. A positive response to an item was scored 1 point and a negative response was scored 0. Scores were then summed up and averaged to give the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores. RESULTS:The majority of the respondents were male (60%), between 15 and 17 years (45%), Christian (93%) and in their first year of study. The adolescents had basic knowledge, positive attitude, and poor practices towards HBV. There was no significant relationship between the demographic variables of the respondents and KAP mean scores. CONCLUSION:There is the need to introduce health education and awareness programs in schools within the Asante Mampong Municipality to improve students’ level of knowledge of HBV. Countrywide studies examining KAP towards HBV infection among adolescents are also warranted.
Keywords: Hepatitis B infection, adolescents, KAP scores, senior high school, Ghana, HBV
