Sadia Nasim, Anjum Shahid, Abdul Ghaffar Pirzada, Ashfaque A Memon.
Perception of adolescent females about viral hepatitis in urban and rural Sindh.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;48(3):71-3.

Objectives: To assess perception regarding viral hepatitis among adolescent college girls and to evaluate the frequency of vaccination against hepatitis B of urban (Karachi) and rural (District Kambar Shadad Kot) Sindh. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study using cluster sampling technique was conducted in five randomly selected intermediate colleges of Karachi and four of district Kambar Shadadkot during January 2008-February 2009. A total number of 500 adolescent college girls of age group 16-19 years were included in the study; 350 from urban and 150 from rural Sindh. A questionnaire was filled comprising of general information regarding viral hepatitis such as; type of hepatitis, mode of transmission, methods of prevention and status of vaccination etc. Respondents were interviewed after a written informed consent and confidentiality was assured. Data was analyzed using SPSS software package Results: Total respondents were 500; 350 from urban (Karachi) and 150 from rural (district Kambar Shadadkot) Sindh. Knowledge regarding various types of hepatitis was known to only 4% urban and 7% respondents from rural setup, while 54% from Karachi and 30% from interior Sindh had awareness that hepatitis B and C are infectious diseases. Seventy three percent of urban respondents knew that hepatitis B can develop cirrhosis and lead to liver cancer and 51% from rural population had the acquaintance. Immunization against HBV was recognized by 53% respondents of urban population but despite acquaintance only 28 % were found vaccinated and the reason cited for non immunization was lack of awareness and cost of vaccine. Only 16% girls were found vaccinated from rural Sindh. Conclusions: Poor knowledge about hepatitis and vaccination against it amongst adolescents is still alarming and strategies need to be developed by the relevant authorities for creating awareness and to vaccinate them.

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