Hepatitis B Viral Infection Awareness amongst Female Adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Authors/Creators
- 1. Department of Community Medicine, Rivers State University
- 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
- 3. Department of Family Medicine Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
- 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pamo University, Medical School
- 5. Department of Surgery Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
- 6. Paediatric Department, Bayelsa+ Medical University (BMU), Yenegoa, Bayelsa State
Description
Background: Adolescents are vulnerable age groups who engage in unprotected sexual activities as well as intravenous drug abuse. They are at risk of contracting Hepatitis B Viral (HBV) infection due to fact that this virus is highly contagious. The Nigerian prevalence of HBV infection is 9.6%. The aim of this work is to determine the awareness of HBV infection amongst Adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Method: The survey was cross sectional study conducted among 100 female adolescents attending a holiday camp meeting in Rivers state, Nigeria. The duration of the camp was six-weeks. The level of awareness of HBV infection was determined amongst subjects were from secondary schools and undergraduates from universities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Permission for the study was granted by office of the Director of Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health. The information was coded and analysed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The number of female adolescents recruited for the study were 150. The mean age was 16.1 years, with the age range of 9. The distribution of the age were 10 - 14years represented by 32 (21.3%) of the respondents, 15-19years represented by 114 (76.1%) of the respondents and 20 – 24 years represented by 4 (2.6%) of the respondents. The distribution of the educational status were secondary school respondents were 96 (64.0%) while tertiary respondents were 54 (36.0%). Twenty (13.3%) of the female adolescents were sexually active. Eighty – one (54.0%) were aware of HBV infection. The commonest means of information for hepatitis B Viral infection by the respondents was through the media 42 (28.0%) followed by friends represented by 10 (6.7%) of the respondents. Sexual intercourse was the commonest means of transmission of HBV infection represented by 41 (27.3%) of the respondents.
Conclusion: This study revealed the level of awareness of hepatitis B viral infection amongst adolescent in as 54.0%. the commonest means of awareness was through the mass media ( 28%). in addition, the commonest means of transmission was through unprotected sexual intercourse represented by 27.3% of the respondents. The need for creating the awareness of HBV infection cannot be over emphasized amongst adolescents so as to minimize its transmission.