Table 3.
General knowledge of Hepatitis B among primary healthcare providers in Wakiso district, Central Uganda.
| Knowledge variables | Satisfactory response (n) (%) |
|---|---|
| Awareness about hepatitis B | |
| Ever heard about hepatitis B | 306 (100) |
| Knowledgeable about the causative agent of hepatitis B | 293 (95.8) |
| How can hepatitis B be transmitted?a | |
| Sexual contact | 178 (58.2) |
| Mother to child | 140 (45.8) |
| Blood transfusion | 165 (53.9) |
| Through sharing sharps | 163 (53.3) |
| Through contact with body fluids | 44 (14.4) |
| Can hepatitis B be transmitted by carriers? | 257 (84) |
| Which populations are at an increased risk of contracting hepatitis Ba | |
| Female sex workers | 209 (68.3) |
| Men who have sex with men | 36 (11.8) |
| Injecting drug and substance users | 38 (12.4) |
| Long truck drivers | 24 (7.8) |
| Waste handlers | 51 (16.7) |
| What practices increase the risk of hepatitis B infection?a | |
| Sharing sharps | 71 (23.2) |
| Unsafe injection practices | 67 (21.9) |
| Unsafe waste handling | 70 (22.9) |
| Unsafe blood transfusion | 90 (29.4) |
| Limited use of protective gears | 147 (48.0) |
| Low vaccination status | 14 (4.6) |
| What are the clinical signs and symptoms of hepatitis B?a | |
| Fever | 198 (64.7) |
| Vomiting | 57 (18.6) |
| Jaundice | 256 (83.7) |
| Abdominal discomfort | 152 (49.7) |
| Clay coloured stool | 9 (2.9) |
| Convulsions | 4 (1.3) |
| Dark coloured urine | 74 (24.2) |
| What complications are related to hepatitis B viral infection?a | |
| Acute hepatitis B disease | 5 (1.6) |
| Liver cirrhosis | 79 (25.8) |
| Liver cancer | 34 (11.1) |
| Anaemia | 17 (5.6) |
| Hepatic encephalopathy | 16 (5.2) |
| Treatment of hepatitis B | |
| Is hepatitis B treatable? | 270 (88.2) |
| Is hepatitis B preventable? | 305 (99.7) |
| Can antiretroviral drugs and supportive treatments be used for the management of hepatitis B? | 220 (71.8) |
| How can hepatitis B be prevented?a | |
| Screening of blood before transfusion | 57 (18.6) |
| Vaccination against HBV | 273 (89.2) |
| Use of protective gears like gloves | 215 (70.3) |
| Safe waste management | 54 (17.6) |
| Safe injection practices (including minimum use of syringes) | 12 (3.9) |
| Ever heard about HBV immune response test | 75 (24.5) |
| Know the recommended dose for hepatitis B vaccine | 291 (95.1) |
| Know that hepatitis B has post-exposure propylaxis | 147 (48.0) |
| Know that hepatitis B immunoglobulin is used for post-exposure propylaxis | 19 (6.2) |
a
Multiple response.