CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 Background of study

Hepatitis B infection is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV attacks and infects the hepatocytes of the liver causing inflammation. The infection caused by HBV could be acute (short term) or chronic (long term). HBV infection could sometimes lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and even liver failure. The virus was discovered in 1965 in Australia and was called the Australian antigen (Blumberg et al.,1965), and the Dane particle (complete HBV virion) was identified in 1970.

In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution recognizing viral hepatitis as a global health concern. One of the reasons for this was the alarming number of cases and deaths recorded each year. A review of published data from 161 countries between 1995 and 2013 estimated the world wide prevalence of HBV infection to be 3.61%, with the highest rate being in Africa. In 2016, and updated estimate showed an increase in the prevalence of the infection to owe 292million people globally. Approximately 29million people were diagnosed and 4.8 million people were treated. In 2019 296million people were chronically ill with HBV infection and about 820,000 deaths as estimated by the WHO.  Approximately 250million people remain infected and 1.5 million new infections occur each year.

Since the discovery of the HBV infection, there has been rapid and unabated progress in studying and understanding the virus. This led to the discovery of drugs, therapy and even a vaccine for the infection. Even so many cases and deaths are still recorded due to several factors such as low rates of diagnosis and treatment, asymptomatic nature of the infection, and lack of knowledge about the disease by health care providers and the population at large.

The WHO has as one of its goals to eliminate the infection by 2030 and some of the measures taken to achieve this goal include the providence of low cost and effective viral medications and vaccines, screening and diagnosis of the infection, screening of blood for blood transfusions amongst others.

Statement of Purpose

The lack of knowledge about the HBV infection is one of the leading causes of the continuous spread of the infection as little or no preventive measures are taken to curb its spread. Also the rate of spread amongst healthcare providers is 2-10 times higher than that of the rest of the population. Therefore asserting the knowledge attitudes, and practices towards hepatitis B virus infection amongst health care students in Cameroon will help to fill the gap where these might be lacking, such as creating more awareness and promoting good practices and acceptable attitudes towards the infection.

Hypothesis

Null hypothesis (Ho): the knowledge attitude and practices toward hepatitis B virus infection amongst health care students in Bamenda Cameroon is good

Alternative hypothesis (Ha): the knowledge attitudes and practices towards hepatitis B virus infection amongst healthcare students in Bamenda Cameroon is poor, or not good.

Objectives

Main objective

The main objective is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare university students in Bamenda Cameroon towards hepatitis B virus infection.

Specific objectives

-To evaluate the knowledge of students in healthcare disciplines towards HBV infection.

-To assess their attitudes towards Hepatitis B virus infection.

-To investigate practices by students in healthcare disciplines towards hepatitis B virus infection.