Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV infection among the healthcare personnel of National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre, Dhaka

Abstract

Background: Infections such as Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose significant global health risks, particularly to healthcare workers (HCWs) who are frequently exposed to infected blood and body fluids. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of HCWs towards HBV, HCV and HIV and establish baseline data for future interventions.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st March to 31st August 2023 at the Department of Virology of National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre (NILMRC), Dhaka, Bangladesh. The data were collect- ed from the participants via self-administered questionnaire which targeted socio demographic information, general knowledge, and attitude towards handling patients infected with HBV, HCV, HIV and their samples. Kolmogor- ov-Smirnov (K-S) test and the Shapiro-Wilk test were used to assess the normality of the data distribution.

Results: The study involved 129 participants; predominantly young adults (57%) aged 20 to 29. The median scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 83, 27, and 31, respectively. Notably, 51% of participants had never received immunization against hepatitis B, and only 41.9% had completed the vaccination course. A significant number, 58.1%, reported an inability to complete all three doses of the vaccine. The study found no significant association between gender and KAP scores; however, age, occupation, and job duration were significantly associated with KAP outcomes.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that while HCWs possess satisfactory knowledge about HBV, HCV and HIV, there are notable gaps in attitudes and practices related to patient care and laboratory safety. Addressing these gaps through targeted interventions like advocacy, training, and continuous supervision is essential for improving infection prevention and control. This study provides crucial baseline data to develop strategies that enhance the safety of both HCWs and patients in healthcare settings.

CME J 2025; 4(2):27-36