Hepatitis B virus infection: Knowledge, misconceptions, and preventive practices among undergraduate students of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: There is high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Nigeria, but there is low utilization of prevention strategies among university students. The high awareness rate of hepatitis B vaccine does not appear to be translated to knowledge and even practice, indicating a knowledge-practice disparity. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, misconceptions, attitudes, and prevention practices toward HBV among students of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and find out sociodemographic determinants. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 409 undergraduate students, recruited through multi-stage sampling technique, and data was collected using a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using SPSS, while knowledge, misconception, and attitude scores were calculated. Associations were tested using chi-square and logistic regression tests, considering P-value less than 0.05 as significant. Results: In total, 43.8% had poor knowledge of HBV, while only 18.6% had good knowledge; additionally, 66.3% had moderate-to-high misconceptions about transmission. While 78.2% knew about HBV vaccine, only 17.8% were fully vaccinated, resulting in a 60.4% knowledge-practice discrepancy. Misconceptions included mosquito bites (37.9%) and sharing food from plates (41.8%), and 45.0% shared sharp objects. Positive attitude towards vaccination was 51.1%. Good knowledge was independently predicted by age ≥25 (AOR=3.91), health-related faculty students (AOR=2.15), and 400L– 500L level (AOR=1.87); additionally, having health faculty predicted reduced misconceptions score. Conclusion: Despite high awareness about vaccines, knowledge levels of HBV were low, there were a lot of misconceptions, and only few students were fully vaccinated. Knowledge regarding HBV was influenced by academic factors and not gender. There is a need for curricula-based intervention, subsidized vaccination at the University Health Centre, and peer-led campaigns to address the knowledge-practice disparity.