Department of Clinical Research and Epidemiology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi, India.
Division of NCDs, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Aug 5;24(1):2112. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19577-5.
Viral hepatitis, particularly B and C, is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, leading to about 1.4 million deaths annually. Alarmingly, less than 20% of those with hepatitis are aware of their status, with only 6.3% receiving treatment. School children can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and preventing the spread of infections. This intervention study focuses on understanding and enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Hepatitis B and C, among school children in Delhi NCR to foster dialogue and awareness.
An intervention study was conducted in selected schools across Delhi NCR between September and October 2022 to assess baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Hepatitis B and C. Three of seven schools were randomly selected by probability sampling, representing 9-12 grade students, and 901 students participated. Following this, an educational interventional program was conducted using educational material, interactive sessions, and audiovisual aids. Post-intervention assessments were done to measure the impact on knowledge improvement.
The study is expected to provide insights into the current level of awareness regarding Hepatitis B and C. Furthermore, the intervention's effectiveness was analysed using the pre-formed questionnaire. The average pre-test knowledge score was 8.9 ± 3.2, while the post-test average was 15.6 ± 4.4, indicating a substantial increase of 6.7 ± 4.7 points (+ 75.2%). There was a positive correlation of 0.240 between pre and post-test scores. Attitude change before and after the session showed a positive percentage change of + 38.0% with a correlation of 0.351. The study indicated substantial improvements in knowledge about hepatitis B and C, notably regarding awareness about transmission methods and risk factors.
This interventional study seeks to bridge the knowledge gap among school children regarding Hepatitis B and C in Delhi NCR, fostering a proactive approach towards prevention, detection, and treatment. The considerable rise in awareness and favourable changes in perspectives post-intervention say that specific health education initiatives are pivotal in raising awareness and comprehension of infectious diseases, ultimately contributing to improving community health.
病毒性肝炎，特别是乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎，是导致肝硬化和肝癌的主要原因，每年导致约 140 万人死亡。令人担忧的是，只有不到 20%的肝炎患者了解自己的病情，只有 6.3%的人接受治疗。在校学生可以在提高认识和预防感染传播方面发挥关键作用。这项干预研究旨在了解和增强德里 NCR 地区在校学生对乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎的知识、态度和实践，以促进对话和提高认识。
2022 年 9 月至 10 月，在德里 NCR 的选定学校进行了一项干预研究，以评估与乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎相关的基线知识、态度和实践。通过概率抽样随机选择了七所学校中的三所，代表 9-12 年级的学生，共有 901 名学生参与。在此之后，使用教育材料、互动环节和视听辅助工具开展了教育干预项目。在干预后进行评估，以衡量知识提高的效果。
该研究预计将提供关于乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎的当前意识水平的见解。此外，还使用预先制定的问卷分析了干预的效果。平均预测试知识得分为 8.9±3.2，而平均后测试知识得分为 15.6±4.4，表明有 6.7±4.7 分的显著提高（增加了 75.2%）。预测试和后测试分数之间存在 0.240 的正相关。课程前后的态度变化显示出正百分比变化为+38.0%，相关系数为 0.351。该研究表明，在德里 NCR 地区，学生对乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎的知识有了实质性的提高，特别是对传播途径和危险因素的认识。
这项干预研究旨在弥合德里 NCR 地区在校学生对乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎知识的差距，培养他们对预防、检测和治疗的积极态度。干预后意识的显著提高和观点的有利变化表明，特定的健康教育举措对于提高对传染病的认识和理解至关重要，最终有助于改善社区健康。
