KNOWLEDGE OF HEPATITIS B AND CONTROL MEASURE PRACTICES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY ELELE, RIVERS STATE
Abstract
ABSTRACT
v
The exposure of nursing students to learning and working experiences in the hospital setting
could predispose them to infections like Hepatitis B, therefore the need to evaluate their level of
knowledge of the infection in order to make room for adequate control and prevention. The main
purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge of hepatitis B and control measure practices
among nursing students in Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers state. Three specific
objectives and research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a crosssectional descriptive design and the researcher made use of a questionnaire as the instrument for
data collection. The questionnaire was administered to the nursing students. Data generated for
the study was analyzed on an item by item basis. In order to answer the research questions,
descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages were used. Findings of current survey
demonstrated that the modes of transmission were shown to include unsafe sex practices (36.8%)
and use of contaminated objects or instruments (21.8%). Furthermore, 78.8% knew that contact
with contaminated blood/blood products is a risk factor; and 60.4% knew that dental procedures
and surgical operations are likely causes of Hepatitis B. Findings showed the control measures to
include safe injection practices (87.7%), safer sex practices (80.2%), vaccination and access to
adequate medical facilities which could facilitate proper screening of the virus (70.0%), and
effective awareness and education campaigns (69.1%). From the findings, the factors were
shown to include inadequate knowledge on the causes, risk factors and control measures of
Hepatitis B (82.9%), lack of available equipment to maintain standard precautions (72.4%), lack
of access to adequate medical facilities (80.9%), social factors (71.0%), and religious and
cultural factors (85.2%). It was recommended that adherence to standard precautions should be
highly encouraged among the students and healthcare workers.
Keywords: knowledge, Hepatitis B, control measure, practices, nursing students
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