A Cross Sectional Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Hepatitis B among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College in rural area.

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.

Surveillance of water quality in a medical college campus in a rural area in North West India.

Water bacteriology is an important component of providing safe and potable water supply. Surveillance of drinking water helps in identifying possible sources of water contamination. The present study was done in DRPGMC Tanda campus to monitor the quality of water samples. A total of 79 water samples were collected and tested over a period of two and a half years. About 33 % of these were found to be not fit for drinking. The findings of the study underscore the importance of following the steps of water purification.