Assessment of knowledge and treatment practices of hepatitis B infection in children among health professionals in Krachi districts in Ghana: a cross-sectional stud

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains one of the neglected infectious diseases. Children infected with HBV are at higher risk of becoming chronic carriers. Barriers to meas ures against HBV in children are attributed to inadequate knowl edge by some health professionals. This study assessed knowledge and treatment practices of HBV in children among health profes sionals Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was con ducted among health professionals (185) in three districts in Krachi using a structured questionnaire. Stata version 15 was used to analyze participants’ responses on awareness, knowledge, and treatment practices. Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between knowledge and treat ment practices. Multivariate regression analysis assessed the rela tionships between variables at P<0.05 and 95% confidence inter val. Results. 20% were not aware of HBV in children and 85% had only fair knowledge about HBV in children. Only 29% indicated good knowledge and treatment practices of HBV in children. A unit increase in knowledge of HBV in children leads to a 1.42 unit increase in awareness (P<0.01), and a 1.3 unit increase in treatment practice (P<0.01) of HBV in children. Conclusions. Participants demonstrated only fair knowledge about HBV in children. Seminars and workshops on HBV in chil dren for health professionals must intensify