KNOWLEDGE OF CAUSES, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant public health burden globally, with varying levels of awareness, understand and utilization among different population groups. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of causes attitude and perception of HBV infection among senior secondary school students in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted for this study. A simple random sampling method was used to select two hundred and seventy (270) consenting respondents from two public schools. A semi-structured self-interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HBV infection was measured on a 16-point scale; scores of 8, >8-16, were categorised as poor and good. Attitude was measured a 12-point scale; scores of 6, >6-12, were categorised as negative and positive while perception was measured on a 14-point scale; scores of 7, >7-14, were categorised as wrong and right perception respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics mean and Chi-square tests at (p=0.05) to test hypotheses. Respondents’ mean age was 18.7±9.0 with age ranges from 12 to 18 years. Almost all of the respondents (97.4%) have heard about HBV infection, slightly above half (55.2%) said HBV can be contracted from sexual relationships. Below half (42.2%) of the respondents reported that HBV can be acquired during birth. And above half (52.2%) of the respondents affirmed HBV cannot be transmitted by sharing toothbrush with an infected and likewise, below half (37.4%) of the respondents acclaimed that HBV cause liver cancer, slightly below half (39.6%) of the respondents reported that HBV can cause Jaundice among children. Majority (73.3%) of the respondent were willing to get vaccinated, majority (78.4%) of the respondents perceived that regular exercise and eating healthy food can prevent HBV infection. Above half (66.7%) of the respondents acknowledged that they need HBV vaccination at their age. Slightly above half (51.9%) of the respondents had good knowledge, half (59.3%) of the respondents had negative attitude with above half (55.6%) of the respondents had right perception towards HBV. Age 12-14 (28.8%) had wrong perception while (71.2%) of the respondents had right perception about HBV infection. There is significant relationship between class and attitude of Hepatitis B viral infection among the SS2 and SS3 students. Respondents’ age was not significantly associated with Knowledge and perception of HBV infection respectively. The study revealed that most of the respondents had good knowledge, right perception and negative attitude on HBV infection. Therefore, printed and electronic media should be used to disseminate factual health promotion and education information on the needs to promote positive attitude and patronage of Hepatitis B vaccine.