Current status of knowledge, attitudes of hepatitis B and C virus and associated factors among people in the Mekong Delta area

Abstract

Correct knowledge of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) plays a crucial role in prevention and control of HBV/HCV. A cross - sectional study by face to face interview of 3240 people aged ≥ 18 years was conducted in 2018 in four provinces in the Mekong Delta area (Can Tho, An Giang, Vinh Long and Hau Giang) to assess correct knowledge among participants regarding 3 basic contents: (1) to transmit HBV/HCV from person to person through blood, sexual route and mother-tochild; (2) to prevent HBV by vaccines and (3) HCV can be cured. The correct knowledge of HBV/HCV remains low (9.5%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that correct knowledge of HBV/HCV tended to be higher among those with a high school education or higher (AOR = 2.23; 95%CI: 1.46 – 3.40); having heard/Getting information of HBV/ HCV from healthcare workers (AOR = 67.06; 95%CI 37.95 – 118.51), mass media (AOR = 48.68; 95%CI 29.60 – 80.05), and from other sources (AOR = 23.98; 95%CI 11.59 – 49.63). We observed a decreasing trend of correct knowledge of HBV/HCV as people got older (AOR = 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97 - 0.99) and farmers tended to have lower correct knowledge of HBV/HCV (compared with people of other occupations AOR = 0.51; 95%CI: 0.35 – 0.74). Health education and communication should be enhanced–with a focus on older people, those with low education level and farmers–to improve their respective understanding.