KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS B INFECTION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major occupational hazard among healthcare workers and medical students because of frequent exposure to blood and body fluids during clinical training. Adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and appropriate preventive practices are essential for minimizing occupational transmission and ensuring patient safety. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding prevention of hepatitis B infection among undergraduate medical students and to determine the association of selected socio-demographic factors with knowledge regarding hepatitis B prevention. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 600 undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care teaching institution over a period of six months. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-designed, pre-tested, self-administered structured questionnaire comprising socio-demographic details and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) components. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were categorized using predetermined scoring criteria. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression were employed. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 600 participants, 71.0% demonstrated good knowledge, 86.5% exhibited a positive attitude, and 77.0% had good preventive practices regarding hepatitis B prevention. Overall, 73.0% had completed hepatitis B vaccination. Knowledge improved significantly with advancing academic year (p<0.001), and vaccinated students showed significantly better knowledge than unvaccinated students (78.5% vs. 50.6%; p<0.001). Students with family members employed in healthcare also demonstrated significantly higher knowledge (81.6% vs. 66.7%; p<0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude (r=0.432; p<0.001), knowledge and practice (r=0.329; p<0.001), and attitude and practice (r=0.518; p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, favourable attitudes, and good preventive practices regarding hepatitis B prevention among undergraduate medical students. Nevertheless, deficiencies in vaccination coverage, awareness of post-exposure prophylaxis, and reporting of occupational exposures remain. Strengthening infection-control education, ensuring complete hepatitis B vaccination before clinical postings, and conducting periodic awareness and skill-based training programmes are essential to enhance occupational safety among future healthcare professionals.