Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Community and Pharmacy Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

Manal Ghazzawi; Sahr Yendewa; Peter B. James; Samuel P. Massaquoi; Lawrence S. Babawo; Foday Sahr; Gibrilla F. Deen; Mustapha Kabba; Ponsiano Ocama; Sulaiman Lakoh; Robert A. Salata; George A. Yendewa

doi:10.20944/preprints202211.0233.v1

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preprints.org > medicine and pharmacology > gastroenterology and hepatology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202211.0233.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Community and Pharmacy Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

Version 1 : Received: 12 November 2022 / Approved: 14 November 2022 / Online: 14 November 2022 (03:51:01 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Ghazzawi, M.; Yendewa, S.A.; James, P.B.; Massaquoi, S.P.; Babawo, L.S.; Sahr, F.; Deen, G.F.; Kabba, M.; Ocama, P.; Lakoh, S.; Salata, R.A.; Yendewa, G.A. Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2023, 11, 177. Ghazzawi, M.; Yendewa, S.A.; James, P.B.; Massaquoi, S.P.; Babawo, L.S.; Sahr, F.; Deen, G.F.; Kabba, M.; Ocama, P.; Lakoh, S.; Salata, R.A.; Yendewa, G.A. Assessment of Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes and Health-Seeking Behaviors Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Pharmacy and Community Setting in Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2023, 11, 177.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health challenge. Emerging evidence suggests that poor knowledge and stigma are impacting HBV control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however their role is not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults aged ≥ 18 years in a community and pharmacy setting in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, stigmatizing attitudes, and health-seeking behaviors regarding HBV. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of HBV knowledge and related stigma. A total of 306 adult participants were enrolled (50.7% male, 7.5% HBV positive and 11.7% vaccinated). Overall, 52.2% had comprehensive HBV knowledge and 49.3% expressed a stigmatizing attitude towards people with HBV. Notwithstanding, 72.2% stated they would receive the HBV vaccine if offered, 80.4% would take anti-HBV medication and 78.8% would be willing to attend clinic regularly. Comprehensive HBV knowledge was associated with HBV positive status (aOR 4.41; p = 0.029) and being vaccinated against HBV (aOR 3.30; p = 0.034). HBV-related stigma was associated with secondary or higher level of education (aOR 2.36; p < 0.001), good HBV knowledge (aOR 2.05; p = 0.006) and pharmacy setting (aOR 1.74, p = 0.037). These findings suggest that education and stigma reduction may benefit HBV elimination efforts in SSA.

Keywords

Hepatitis B virus; knowledge; stigma; health-seeking behaviors; Sierra Leone

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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