Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health challenge. Emerging evidence suggests that poor knowledge and stigma are impacting HBV control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but their role is not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥18 years in a community and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/177 |
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| author | Manal Ghazzawi Sahr A. Yendewa Peter B. James Samuel P. Massaquoi Lawrence S. Babawo Foday Sahr Gibrilla F. Deen Mustapha Kabba Ponsiano Ocama Sulaiman Lakoh Robert A. Salata George A. Yendewa |
| author_facet | Manal Ghazzawi Sahr A. Yendewa Peter B. James Samuel P. Massaquoi Lawrence S. Babawo Foday Sahr Gibrilla F. Deen Mustapha Kabba Ponsiano Ocama Sulaiman Lakoh Robert A. Salata George A. Yendewa |
| author_sort | Manal Ghazzawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health challenge. Emerging evidence suggests that poor knowledge and stigma are impacting HBV control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but their role is not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥18 years in a community and pharmacy setting in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, stigmatizing attitudes and health-seeking behaviors regarding HBV. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of HBV knowledge and related stigma. A total of 306 adult participants were enrolled (50.7% male, 7.5% HBV positive and 11.7% vaccinated). Overall, 52.2% had good HBV knowledge and 49.3% expressed a stigmatizing attitude towards people with HBV. Notwithstanding, 72.2% stated they would receive the HBV vaccine if offered, 80.4% would take anti-HBV medication and 78.8% would be willing to attend clinic regularly. Good HBV knowledge was associated with HBV positive status (aOR 4.41; <i>p</i> = 0.029) and being vaccinated against HBV (aOR 3.30; <i>p</i> = 0.034). HBV-related stigma was associated with secondary or higher level of education (aOR 2.36; <i>p</i> < 0.001), good HBV knowledge (aOR 2.05; <i>p</i> = 0.006) and pharmacy setting (aOR 1.74, <i>p</i> = 0.037). These findings suggest that education and stigma reduction may benefit HBV elimination efforts in SSA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:34:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-816788608ee144ee816dbfc3dd9098e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:34:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-816788608ee144ee816dbfc3dd9098e72023-11-30T22:26:39ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-01-0111217710.3390/healthcare11020177Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional StudyManal Ghazzawi0Sahr A. Yendewa1Peter B. James2Samuel P. Massaquoi3Lawrence S. Babawo4Foday Sahr5Gibrilla F. Deen6Mustapha Kabba7Ponsiano Ocama8Sulaiman Lakoh9Robert A. Salata10George A. Yendewa11KnowHep Foundation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneFaculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, AustraliaMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneDepartment of Nursing, School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo Campus, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneDepartment of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, UgandaMinistry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra LeoneDepartment of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USADepartment of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USAHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health challenge. Emerging evidence suggests that poor knowledge and stigma are impacting HBV control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but their role is not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥18 years in a community and pharmacy setting in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, stigmatizing attitudes and health-seeking behaviors regarding HBV. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of HBV knowledge and related stigma. A total of 306 adult participants were enrolled (50.7% male, 7.5% HBV positive and 11.7% vaccinated). Overall, 52.2% had good HBV knowledge and 49.3% expressed a stigmatizing attitude towards people with HBV. Notwithstanding, 72.2% stated they would receive the HBV vaccine if offered, 80.4% would take anti-HBV medication and 78.8% would be willing to attend clinic regularly. Good HBV knowledge was associated with HBV positive status (aOR 4.41; <i>p</i> = 0.029) and being vaccinated against HBV (aOR 3.30; <i>p</i> = 0.034). HBV-related stigma was associated with secondary or higher level of education (aOR 2.36; <i>p</i> < 0.001), good HBV knowledge (aOR 2.05; <i>p</i> = 0.006) and pharmacy setting (aOR 1.74, <i>p</i> = 0.037). These findings suggest that education and stigma reduction may benefit HBV elimination efforts in SSA.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/177hepatitis B virusknowledgestigmahealth-seeking behaviorsSierra Leone |
| spellingShingle | Manal Ghazzawi Sahr A. Yendewa Peter B. James Samuel P. Massaquoi Lawrence S. Babawo Foday Sahr Gibrilla F. Deen Mustapha Kabba Ponsiano Ocama Sulaiman Lakoh Robert A. Salata George A. Yendewa Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study Healthcare hepatitis B virus knowledge stigma health-seeking behaviors Sierra Leone |
| title | Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | assessment of knowledge stigmatizing attitudes and health seeking behaviors regarding hepatitis b virus infection in a pharmacy and community setting in sierra leone a cross sectional study |
| topic | hepatitis B virus knowledge stigma health-seeking behaviors Sierra Leone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/2/177 |
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