Awareness About Hepatitis B in Patients and Attendants

Background: To determine the level of awarenessamongst the patients and their attendants about hepatitis Bvirus and its vaccination.Methods: In this descriptive study patients and theirattendants attending the out patient department weresubjected to a questionnaire about different aspects ofhepatitis B.Results: Seven hundred and eighty individuals (65%patients, 35% non-patients) were studied. Majority (77%)were male. Awareness about the disease and the vaccinewas 61% and 39%, respectively. Educated individuals andthose who read newspapers and listened to radio weremore aware about hepatitis B vaccine (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Awareness level about the hepatitis Binfection in army personnel/families and its vaccination issatisfactory as compared to civil population