Awareness About The Hepatitis B and Prevention of Hepatitis B Among High School Students

Aim: The study was carried out to identify Hepatitis B among high school children and awareness about the prevention of Hepatitis B

Method: Data were obtained from a questionnaire for 1726 senior class students of seven high schools that are determined randomly among the high schools in İstanbul. The questionnaire consists of 40 questions,not including demographic features, that focused on means of disease transmission, prevention and treatment methods, determining groups at risk. 40 questions were graded out of 100. After filling up the questionnaires, a brochure was handed out to students. Frequency, Chi square test, student t test, one way ANOVA test was used in statistical evaluation.

Results: The average age of the students were 17.2 ± 0.7 years. The 53.9% of the students were girls, 46.1% were boys. It was found out that 33.9% of the students had been informed about Hepatitis B and 18.6% of them defined the disease correctly. About the transmission of the disease; most of the students knew that the disease was spreaded by blood transfussion,the re-use of the injectors and sexual relationship. About the prevention of the disease; vaccine,the use of condoms,monogamy were important. It was seen that, the ones frequently blood- transferred, taking the drugs through their veins and changing their sex-partners frequently are under the risk of catching the disease. It was generally known by the majority of the students. It was calculated that, the average knowledge score of the students about the disease was 38.44 ± 20.65 out of hundred.

Conclusion: It has been identified that the level of awareness about Hepatitis B and the prevention of it among students was inadequate. To increase the awareness level, subject related training activities within the School Health Programme could be recommended.