Knowledge regarding the transmission of hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C virus infection and HIV among patients attending medical outpatient department at Nishtar hospital, Multan

ABSTRACT

To assess the level of knowledge regarding the transmission of hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C and HIV among the patients of medical outpatient department, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Patients attending Medical outpatient department, Nishtar Hospital, Multan were interviewed in this cross-sectional study for the assessment of knowledge regarding the spread of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and .HIV. A total of 350 patients attending medical outpatient department were interviewed. Of these participants, 208 [59.4%] were males and 142 [40.6%] were females. Mean age of the participants was 35.15 +/- 6.57 years. Three [0.85%] were familiar with only hepatitis B, Three [0.85%] with only hepatitis C and 3 [0.85%] with only HIV and 290 [82.8%] were familiar with all three diseases while 51[14.5%] were unfamiliar with these diseases. Two hundred and sixty eight [16.6%] participants were knowing that these diseases could be transmitted by syringes while 265 [75.7%] by needles. Two hundred sixty one [74.6%] were knowing that these could be spread by the transfusion of contaminated blood, 217 [62%] knew that these could be spread by dental procedure with contaminated instruments, 233 [66.6%] reported that by unsafe sex, 169 [48.3%] by tattooing, 196 [56%] by ear/nose piercing, 261 [74.6%] by infected razors and 198 [56.6%] knew that these could be transmitted by mother to newborns. Knowledge regarding the spread of hepatitis B, C and HIV was found to be low in our study population which emphasizes the need for strong awareness campaigns and programs to address this issue