ABSTRACT

Background: Hepatitis B is a viral infection endemic in Pakistan. Awareness and prevention are the only safeguards against the spread and transmission of the disease, especially amongst the people working in close proximity to hepatitis patients, such as the paramedical staff.

Aim: To assess the awareness of Hepatitis-B amongst Non-Medical staff of Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi khan.

Methods: Cross sectional comparative study was carried out among 126 participants. The responses for demographics, level of awareness variables, vaccination status and perceptions were gathered using a structured pre-tested questionnaire and after taking ethical approval from the ethical board DGKMC, Dera Ghazi Khan. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis.

Results: Amongst 126 respondents 103 were males and 23 were females. Out of 126 respondents 87(69%) claimed to have heard of Hepatitis B, but only 65/87 (74.71%) were found having good Awareness level regarding Hepatitis B and its transmission. Only 51/87 (58.62%) of the non-medical staff received vaccination specific for Hepatitis B, while status of vaccination at birth (EPI) was 71/87 (81.61%). The awareness regarding the symptoms depicted pale skin 43/87(49.43%) and pale eyes 41/87(47.13%) as the most common presentation of hepatitis B.

Conclusion: The results concluded that Hepatitis B, though a preventable disease, remains endemic amongst the people of Pakistan, especially the high risk group due to lack of knowledge and awareness. The vaccination status of this preventable disease, for which vaccination is easily available, still lags behind. Importance of awareness campaigns needs to be enlightened amongst the public in general and the paramedical staff teaching hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan in specific.

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Non-medical staff, Awareness.