Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and the Hepatitis B Knowledge Level of the University and Vocational School Students Studying at Health Professional Training at Celal Bayar University
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Hepatitis B is one of the most prevalent infections both in Turkey and world and causes mortality and morbidity. Health professionals are the most amenable risk groups for hepatitis B infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate hepatitis B seroprevalance and to reveal the hepatitis B knowledge level of first year students studying at health professional training schools. This cross sectional study was carried out by administering a questionnaire including questions about the transmission routes and protection from hepatitis B to 392 first year students at Faculty of Medicine, Manisa School of Health and Vocational School of Health Service of Celal Bayar University in 2007-2008 academic year. We collected 10 cc venous blood samples and determined Hepatitis B markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG) for each sample by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. In the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, chi-square test, student's t test and ANOVA were used. The seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HBs in students were 1.3% and 33.4%, respectively. Of the students 34.7% responded that they had knowledge about hepatitis B mostly through school education or health professionals. While protection by vaccination against hepatitis B was the most known character of the disease, the least known feature was the agent's presence in saliva. The number of correct answers of students at Faculty of Medicine was more than the students from other schools. The seropositivity rate of HBsAg in students was not concordant with our country which is in intermediate endemicity area in the world. The results of the study revealed that students did not have enough knowledge about hepatitis