Factors Influencing Awareness and Practices of Hepatitis B Viral Infection among Students at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana
Background: Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection is a severe global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis. There are an estimated 2 billion individuals infected worldwide, and more than 240 million suffer from chronic illness. Ghana is one of the West African countries which is hyper-endemic for HBV, with a prevalence estimate of 15% of the adult population. This study aimed to identify and examine the factors influencing the awareness and practices of Hepatitis B viral infection among university students in Tamale, the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 university students for six weeks, from January to February 2023. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Data was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 22. Results: A high percentage of the study population, 94.25%, knew Hepatitis B can affect all age groups. Of the significant complications of Hepatitis B inquired about, 94.25% answered that Hepatitis B could cause hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the number one killer among patients suffering from the disease. More than 90% of respondents knew a vaccine for Hepatitis B was available, and 95.25% were aware of the vaccine’s safety. This underscores the importance of vaccination in preventing the disease. According to the respondents, unsafe blood transfusion and unprotected sex were the major routes of transmission, accounting for 90.25% and 80.5%, respectively. Females, who accounted for 59.25% of the respondents, had a higher level of awareness than males. Conclusion: There was a high level of awareness concerning the Hepatitis B viral infection among the university students. Factors significantly impacting students’ practices with Hepatitis B infection were the vaccination status (69%) and willingness to be vaccinated (92.5%). Among the respondents, 20.8% of fresh students and 23.7% of the final year students were aware of the disease.
Cite this paper
Hernandez, O. R. , Moiko, J. K. and Delis, C. Y. R. (2025). Factors Influencing Awareness and Practices of Hepatitis B Viral Infection among Students at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e2715. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1112715.
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