Published online Nov 27, 2018. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i11.867
Peer-review started: April 18, 2018
First decision: May 11, 2018
Revised: August 22, 2018
Accepted: October 8, 2018
Article in press: October 8, 2018
Published online: November 27, 2018
To evaluate viral hepatitis knowledge among individuals from different resource areas and health conditions to identify possible gaps.
A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out among 447 individuals from five distinct populations in Brazil: Southeast Viral Hepatitis Ambulatory (n = 100), South (n = 89) and Northeast (n = 114) Health Center, Southeast (n = 77) and Northeast (n = 67) low resource areas. All individuals answered a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and viral hepatitis awareness. The perception was scored based on the average number of correct answers of all participants and categorized as “low” (0-28 correct answers) or “desirable” (29-46 correct answers). Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and perception were also evaluated.
A low level of knowledge was observed in individuals from Northeast Health Center, Northeast and Southeast low resource areas while desirable knowledge was observed in individuals from Viral Hepatitis Ambulatory and South Health Center. According to sociodemographic characteristics, desirable scores were more common among those with secondary education (47.1%), those who declared themselves as white (46.3%), and those who lived in houses with three individuals (25.5%). Multivariate analysis showed an association between viral hepatitis perception and type of population.
The results demonstrated high level of knowledge among study participants from health clinics from the Southeast region of Brazil and the importance of education programs in increasing the level of knowledge in low resource areas.
Core tip: This study evaluated viral hepatitis knowledge among individuals from five different resource areas and health conditions in Brazil. Participants responded to a questionnaire and the perception was scored as “low” or “desirable”. Individuals from Northeast Health Center and Northeast and Southeast low resource areas exhibited low perception, while Southeast and South Health Center exhibited a desirable perception. A positive association was observed between perception and education level, race, number of individuals living in the same house and population type. The results showed the importance of prevention campaigns, especially among individuals living in low resource areas.