| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Hepatitis B viral infection is a significant global public health problem, highly contagious and a cause of the world’s most common liver infection. In Uganda, HBV infection is highly endemic with national prevalence of about 10% (WHO, 2010).Vaccines were introduced in Uganda since 2002 and was expected to give 90- 100% protection against HBV infection (WHO,
2012), yet in 2010,14 people out of 20 cases reported in the district hospital of Moyo died of the HBV infection (Warom, 2013).
Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the individual, socio-economic and health facility factors influencing prevalence of HBV infection among adults aged (18-45 years) in Moyo town council, Moyo district.
Methods: In this research a cross sectional study design was used where 348 respondents in MTC, Moyo district were involved. Sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula based on an assumption that 50% of the adults aged 18- 45 years in Moyo district were knowledgeable about HBV infection, 5% marginal error, and a non-response rate of 10% was used. Multi-stage
sampling procedure was used and data collection was done using researcher administered questionnaire and Key Informants Interview guide. The responses were then entered in SPSS 16.0 within which it was statistically analysed using chi- square statistical test values, those considered significant with a (p<0.05) were further analysed at bivariate logistic regression.
Results: According to the study, age groups between 24- 35 had the highest number of respondents infected with HBV 163(42.4%) that accounts for 16 out of the total number 29 of those who were infected. Secondary education was associated with prevalence of HBV infection (uOR= 2.607, 95% CI: 0.998- 6.807, p= 0.050), those who said HBV is not airborne were more likely to get infected of HBV compared to those who said HBV is not airborne(uOR= 8.557, 95% CI: 1.117- 65.532, p= 0.039), respondents who reported that HBV is got through sharing utensils were less like to be infected(uOR= 0.354, 95% CI: 0.129- 0.973, P= 0.044) and those who admitted that condom use prevents them from enjoying sex (uOR= 0.303, 95% CI: 0.094- 0.977, p= 0.046) were more likely to get infected of HBV compared to those who said that condoms were not available(uOR= 0.239.95, 95% CI:0.098- 0.584, p= 0.002). Conclusion: Level of education was significant in relation to the prevalence of HBV, Knowledge deficiency among respondents and those who said that condoms prevent them from enjoying sex were more likely to get infected of the HBV and were contributory factors to the high prevalence of HBV infection in the district, therefore there is need for community sensitization, screening and vaccination.
Recommendation: There is need for training of all health workers to increase their knowledge on HBV infection, community sensitization on the transmission routes and prevention of HBV, lobbying for funds from government and non- governmental organizations in order to acquire screening test kits and vaccines for HBV for mass screening and vaccination of the community. | en_US |
