The prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice of Federal police crime prevention staffs towards hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Viral hepatitis could be an international public health problem affecting many
individuals each year, causing disability and death. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are
common causes of hepatitis. Federal police crime prevention staffs are high-risk people for
parenteral and sexually transmitted diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C
virus (HCV). Data regarding prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice of Federal police
crime prevention staffs towards hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Ethiopia
is limited.
Objective: Determining the prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice of Federal police
crime prevention staffs towards hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among 500 federal police
crime prevention staffs, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from December 2018 to June 2019. A
systematic probability sampling method was employed. A structured questionnaire was used to
collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice. All samples
were tested, using a wondfo one step test strip for HBsAg and Ecotest test strip for HCV. Positive
samples were retested by using Murex HBsAg version 3 UK ELISA kits. Data entry and analysis was
done using SPSS version 20 computer software.
Results: The overall prevalence of HBV among Federal police crime prevention staffs in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia was 4.6% (n=23/500). Of those 4.9% (n=20/407) males and 3.2% (n=3/93) of females were
positive for HBV. The overall prevalence of HCV was 0(0%). From the total participants, 51%
(n=255/500) did not heard about hepatitis, 61.4% (n=332/500) and 61% (n=305/500) incorrectly
identified that HBV and HCV can be transmitted by feco-oral and contaminated water, 97%
(n=485/500) were not screened and 99.6% (n=498/500) were not vaccinated. The majority of the study
participants 349(69.8%) believe that their job puts them at high risk of acquiring of HBV and HCV, 84.6%
(n=423/5) agreed that taking of HBV vaccine is safe.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of hepatitis B viruses among federal police crime
prevention staffs in Addis Ababa was intermediate and very low hepatitis C. Majority of the participants
had limited knowledge about the transmission and protection of HBV and HCV infection. Large scale
study is important to make generalization and conducting regular health education is essential.
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Keywords
Hepatitis B and C virus, prevalence, federal police crime prevention, KAP