Hepatitis, a liver infection that leads to extensive liver scarring, liver failure, and even deaths, is a significant global health concern. A large proportion of chronic liver diseases and liver failures are associated with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections, with viral hepatitis being the tenth leading cause of death worldwide and the main cause of liver cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that 2 billion people globally have viral hepatitis, with 350 million chronic HBV and 170 million chronic HCV infections. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate an individual’s understanding, attitudes, and preventive approaches toward HBV and HCV to control their adverse health impacts successfully.
A cross-sectional study conducted in the North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, aimed to evaluate the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAPs) related to HBV and HCV among patients in two hospitals in the area. The data for the study was collected by interviewing selected patients with structured questionnaires. The research findings revealed that a significant number of participants had good knowledge about HBV and HCV, but poor attitudes and prevention practices.
A striking outcome of the study was the significant link between the patients’ educational level, history of hospital admission, and comprehensive understanding of HBV and HCV. In fact, individuals with a higher level of education were more likely to have greater knowledge about HBV/HCV than less-educated individuals, and those with a history of hospital admission had a better chance of having good knowledge compared to those who did not have such history.
However, the study also showed a significant number of patients, especially from lower-income groups and rural areas, having poor attitudes and prevention practices towards HBV and HCV. Thus, the results underscore the need for targeted interventions, particularly community-based education to improve attitudes and prevention practices, to curb the morbidity and mortality rates due to HBV and HCV.
Chronic HBV and HCV infections are prevalent causes of liver diseases worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. These infections can result in severe health hazards, such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and death. Thus, enhancing our understanding of these infections, fostering positive attitudes, and promoting effective health practices are key to reducing their damaging effects.
Source: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-025-02843-2