Hannana Akhtar, Rohma Akhtar, Moshayyadah Akhtar, Bushra Nosheen, Rana Muhammad, Akhtar Khan.
Assessment of knowledge about Hepatitis C Virus among Attendants of the patients visiting medical ward.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;12(2):451-4.

Background: Hepatitis is a disease of the liver that causes inflammation of liver, potentially resulting in permanent damage . In Pakistan more than 10 million people are living with Hepatitis C virus (HCV), with high morbidity and mortality. Hepatitis C Virus is one of the major life threatening diseases now a days and it is very important for the general population to have knowledge about this disease. So, this study was conducted to assess awareness among the people regarding this disease . Aims: To assess the knowledge about Hepatitis C Virus among attendants, to assess the awareness among attendants about the modes of transmission and risk factors of hepatitis C Virus and to make recommendations for the prevention and control of Hepatitis C Virus. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in medical wards of Services Hospital Lahore in the month May-July 2015. A total of 74 attendants of the patients were selected by Non-probability convenient sampling technique and were questioned about the awareness of Hepatitis C Virus. Knowledge about Hepatitis C Virus was then analyzed by SPSS version 20 . Results: Among all respondents, 63.5% were males and 36.48% were females. Men were more knowledgeable then females. Awareness was high among respondents of age group 21-40. According to 86.5% respondents, the transmission of disease was through sharing of various equipments. 8 7.8% of the respondents were having the opinion that the disease can be prevented by using screened blood. 75.7% of the respondents knew about vaccination against Hepatitis C Virus. Conclusions: Poor knowledge score was observed in 12.2% of the respondents and moderate knowledge score in 51.8% of the respondents. Therefore health education program should be started in the community.

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