Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Hepatitis B among Expectant Mothers Seeking Antenatal Care in a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Metropolitan City

Abstract

Background: Mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) is one of the common modes of Hepatitis B transmission.
Though there is improved childhood Hepatitis B vaccination in India, MTCT accounts for about 50% of new
Hepatitis B infection. Preventing MTCT is of utmost importance for decreasing the feet of Hepatitis B. Prevention
requires expectant mothers to be aware of the disease and to understand the consequences of Hepatitis B
transmission to their child. The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards
Hepatitis B among the expectant mothers seeking antenatal care in a tertiary hospital in a metropolitan city.
Methods: After obtaining Ethics clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee, this cross sectional study was
conducted among 163 expectant women attending the outpatient and inpatient department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology of a tertiary care centre. Data collection was done using a study questionnaire and analysis was done
using IBM SPSS version 26.0
Results: Forty nine percent of the 163 participants were aware about hepatitis B infection. Only 7% were aware
of mother to child transmission. Socio-demographic factors like age, education, socioeconomic status were
statistically significantly associated with awareness regarding Hepatitis B, but the gravid status was not. None of
the women were aware of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) launched by the Government
of India and its provisions.
Conclusions: The need for creating awareness regarding Hepatitis B among expectant mothers exists, since a
substantial number of females lack knowledge and positive attitude which reflects as poor practices towards
Hepatitis B.