ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common blood borne viral infection in the world. It is a major potentially life threatening, global health problem. About 6,00,000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B. Health care workers including medical students are at risk of acquiring the infection while at work. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of hepatitis B infection among Undergraduate (MBBS) medical students of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda. Materials and Methods: Knowledge, attitude, and practises towards Hepatitis B was assessed by using a pre validated questionnaire in a cross sectional descriptive study. Mean scores for knowledge, attitudes and practices were calculated using the Epilnfo software version 7. Results: Four hundred fifty questionnaires were distributed among the students.387 responded, a response rate of 86%. Mean age of female students was 21.5 ± 1.59 yrs and mean age for male students was 21.9 ± 1.69 yr. Mean scores for Knowledge, Attitude, and Practises were 15.87 ± 1.57 (Maximum score 19) , 2.00 ± 0.63 (Maximum Score 3) and 4.6 ± 0.97 (Maximum Score 6) respectively. This study also demonstrates some important shortcomings in the knowledge, attitude, and practises of medical students. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest good Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hepatitis B among the students. Though, overall knowledge and attitude to HBV infection is good, there is a need to develop guidelines to ensure that medical students are not only fully vaccinated against HBV but adequate practice of standard precautions is also adhered to.