Effects of Disease Education on Knowledge and Attitudes of Hepatitis B among In-School Adolescents with Hearing Impairment in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Knowledge and attitude are critical in controlling hepatitis B in all populations, including in-school adolescents with hearing impairment who have inadequate access to health information. Hepatitis B is one of the many public health problems in Nigeria, and in particular for adolescents with hearing loss who are also affected by the barriers in access to health information. Literature have shown a low level of knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B in Nigeria, including Oyo State. Previous studies on knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B focused largely on causative factors, with little attention paid to intervention using Disease Education (DE). This study analysed the impact of the disease education intervention on knowledge and attitude toward Hepatitis B among in-school adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria
Method: A pretest–posttest control group quasi-experimental design was used. A total of 123 participants comprised the experimental (n = 78) and control (n = 45) groups. The data collection for this study included the use of validated instruments, including the Knowledge of Hepatitis B Test (r = 0.79), the Attitude toward Hepatitis B scale (r = 0.71) and intervention manual. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance at the 0.05 level of significance.
Result: The 123 participants comprised 65.9% females with a mean age of 18.23± 1.34 years. It was found that there was a statistically significant main effect of treatment on KHB (F (1,115) = 1205.23, partial η² =0.91). Participants in DE (x̄ = 31.74) were significantly better than those in the control (x̄ = 20.40) group. It was also found that there was a statistically significant main effect of treatment on AtHB (F (1,115) = 2856.05, partial η² = 0.96). Participants in DE (x̄ = 40.57) had a more positive attitude than those in the control (x̄ = 28.90) group.
Conclusion: The study concludes that while the disease education intervention significantly improved knowledge and attitudes, Inclusive health education interventions are therefore effective across both male and female adolescents with hearing impairment.

Hepatitis B, Knowledge, Attitude, Disease Education

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