GANA’NIN KUZEY BÖLGESİ’NDEKİ TAMALE’DE YETİŞKİNLER ARASINDA HEPATİT B ENFEKSİYONUNA İLİŞKİN BİLGİ DÜZEYİ VE TUTUM

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Gana'nın Kuzey Bölgesi'ndeki Tamale şehrinde yaşayan yetişkinler arasında hepatit B enfeksiyonuna ilişkin bilgi düzeyleri ve tutumlarını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gana, Tamale'deki yetişkinler arasından seçilen kişilerin hepatit B enfeksiyonuna karşı bilgi düzeyi ve tutumlarını değerlendirmek için anket kullanılarak tanımlayıcı bir çalışma yapılmıştır. Çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden kişilerden veriler toplanmıştır. Çalışma örneği 281 katılımcıdan oluşmaktadır. Katılımcıları çalışmaya dahil etmek için basit rastgele örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Veriler SPSS 24.0 kullanılarak analiz edilmiş, çalışma bulguları metin ve tablolar kullanılarak sunulmuştur. Çalışma, katılımcıların yaklaşık olarak yarısının hepatit B enfeksiyonu hakkında yeterli bilgiye sahip olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Enfeksiyon hakkında yeterli bilgiye sahip olanların bile bazı bilgi eksiklikleri vardır. Çalışma aynı zamanda katılımcıların %64'ünün hepatit B aşılamasına karşı iyi bir tutum sergilediğini de ortaya koymuştur. Hepatit B'ye karşı aşılama yapmayanlar, maliyeti ve aşılamanın önündeki diğer engelleri neden olarak belirtmiştir. Katılımcıların hemen hemen hepsi, hepatit B ile enfekte olduklarını fark ettiğinde tedavi için sağlık tesislerine başvuracaklarını söylemiştir. Çalışma, hepatit B'ye karşı bilgi ve tutumun yeterli olmadığını göstermektedir. Bu nedenle, hepatit B enfeksiyonuna karşı bilgi ve tutumu artırmak için halkı hepatit B enfeksiyonu hakkında daha fazla eğitmek, bunun için daha çok çaba gösterilmesi ve bu enfeksiyona karşı önlem alınması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Bilgi
• tutum
• hepatit B
• yetişkinler
• Tamale
• Gana

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEPATITIS B INFECTION AMONG ADULTS IN TAMALE IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study aims to investigate knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B infection among adults in Tamale, Ghana. A cross sectional study was conducted using self-administered structured questionnaire to assess participants’ level of knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B infection among adults in Tamale, Ghana. Data was collected from people who agreed to participate in the study. The study sample was 281 participants. Simple random sampling was used to recruit participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 24 and study findings presented using text and tables. The study revealed that about half of the respondents had good knowledge on hepatitis B infection. There were even some knowledge gaps among the respondents who had good knowledge on the infection. The study also revealed that 63% of the respondents had good attitude towards hepatitis B vaccination. Those who did not vaccinate against hepatitis B indicated the cost and other reasons as the barrier for not vaccinating. Almost all the respondents indicated they will visit health facility for treatment in case they realise they are infected with hepatitis B. The study shows knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B is not adequate. There is therefore the need to put in more measures to educate the public on hepatitis B in order to improve the public’s knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B infection.

Keywords

• Knowledge
• attitude
• hepatits B
• adults
• Tamale
• Gana

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