Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a significant cause of liver disease globally, is recognised as a 2030 elimination target by the World Health Organization (WHO). Healthcare workers (HCWs) require appropriate HBV knowledge to identify, manage and prevent HBV. Aim: We investigated the knowledge,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-01-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4646 |
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| author | Atlegang Mashilo Itumeleng Mompati Refilwe Ramakatane Didintle Sebitloane Naledi Sibi Philippa C. Matthews Cornel Van Rooyen Dominique Goedhals Sabeehah Vawda |
| author_facet | Atlegang Mashilo Itumeleng Mompati Refilwe Ramakatane Didintle Sebitloane Naledi Sibi Philippa C. Matthews Cornel Van Rooyen Dominique Goedhals Sabeehah Vawda |
| author_sort | Atlegang Mashilo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a significant cause of liver disease globally, is recognised as a 2030 elimination target by the World Health Organization (WHO). Healthcare workers (HCWs) require appropriate HBV knowledge to identify, manage and prevent HBV.
Aim: We investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) pertaining to HBV among HCWs to establish insights into awareness and inform the delivery of training.
Setting: The study was conducted among HCWs of 18 primary healthcare facilities in Bloemfontein, Free State province, South Africa.
Methods: Data were collected via anonymous, self-applied, 28-question-questionnaires in English. Data were captured on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed by a biostatistician, using Statistical Analyses Software (SAS 9.4).
Results: The response rate was 88% (88/100), and median participant age was 44 years. Participants were mostly female (83%), professional nurses (65%) with more than 8 years of experience (60%). Median scores were 83% for epidemiology and transmission, 50% for clinical picture, 44% for laboratory diagnosis, 40% for management and 40% for prevention. No difference was noted based on number of years of experience.
Conclusion: Considerable gaps in KAP to HBV were noted among primary HCWs in Bloemfontein. Larger studies are needed to ascertain the KAP towards HBV among South African HCWs, to identify areas for enhanced training.
Contribution: Hepatitis B virus, an important cause of liver disease in Africa, is poorly identified and managed. Our study highlights the need to strengthen HCW education to ensure individuals are appropriately diagnosed, managed and educated on preventative measures, to reduce the burden of disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db67548a14f84d9686ca867f3ceb4cff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-db67548a14f84d9686ca867f3ceb4cff2025-02-11T13:26:27ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362025-01-01171e1e810.4102/phcfm.v17i1.46461219Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staffAtlegang Mashilo0Itumeleng Mompati1Refilwe Ramakatane2Didintle Sebitloane3Naledi Sibi4Philippa C. Matthews5Cornel Van Rooyen6Dominique Goedhals7Sabeehah Vawda8Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinThe Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; and, Department of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom; and, Department of Infectious Diseases, University College London Hospital, LondonDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; and, National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa; and, Department of Virology, Pathcare Laboratory, PretoriaDepartment of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; and, National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa; and, Department of Virology, Pathcare Laboratory, PretoriaBackground: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a significant cause of liver disease globally, is recognised as a 2030 elimination target by the World Health Organization (WHO). Healthcare workers (HCWs) require appropriate HBV knowledge to identify, manage and prevent HBV. Aim: We investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) pertaining to HBV among HCWs to establish insights into awareness and inform the delivery of training. Setting: The study was conducted among HCWs of 18 primary healthcare facilities in Bloemfontein, Free State province, South Africa. Methods: Data were collected via anonymous, self-applied, 28-question-questionnaires in English. Data were captured on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed by a biostatistician, using Statistical Analyses Software (SAS 9.4). Results: The response rate was 88% (88/100), and median participant age was 44 years. Participants were mostly female (83%), professional nurses (65%) with more than 8 years of experience (60%). Median scores were 83% for epidemiology and transmission, 50% for clinical picture, 44% for laboratory diagnosis, 40% for management and 40% for prevention. No difference was noted based on number of years of experience. Conclusion: Considerable gaps in KAP to HBV were noted among primary HCWs in Bloemfontein. Larger studies are needed to ascertain the KAP towards HBV among South African HCWs, to identify areas for enhanced training. Contribution: Hepatitis B virus, an important cause of liver disease in Africa, is poorly identified and managed. Our study highlights the need to strengthen HCW education to ensure individuals are appropriately diagnosed, managed and educated on preventative measures, to reduce the burden of disease.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4646hepatitis b virusprimary healthcarehepatitisknowledgehealth educationawarenessprevention |
| spellingShingle | Atlegang Mashilo Itumeleng Mompati Refilwe Ramakatane Didintle Sebitloane Naledi Sibi Philippa C. Matthews Cornel Van Rooyen Dominique Goedhals Sabeehah Vawda Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine hepatitis b virus primary healthcare hepatitis knowledge health education awareness prevention |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes and practices to hepatitis B among South African primary healthcare staff |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices to hepatitis b among south african primary healthcare staff |
| topic | hepatitis b virus primary healthcare hepatitis knowledge health education awareness prevention |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4646 |
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