ASSESSMENT OF THE VACCINATION STATUS, KNOWLEDGE, AND AWARENESS OF HEPATITIS B AMONG ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS AT KHYBER MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, PESHAWAR

Abstract

Background:

Hepatitis B is a major worldwide health issue that impacts the liver and can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and chronic illness. Because work exposure puts healthcare students at higher risk, vaccination and awareness are crucial.

Objectives:

To evaluate knowledge, awareness, and vaccination status of Allied Health Science students of KMU Peshawar about Hepatitis B.

Methodology:

A structured questionnaire was used to perform a cross-sectional study with 258 undergraduate students. IBM SPSS 27 version Statistics was used to examine the data, which were gathered via stratified random sampling. The data was summarized using descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage and inferential statistics for association.

Results:

Most students (97.3%) were aware of Hepatitis B and correctly classified it as a viral condition that affects the liver. However, only 21.7% of students received vaccinations, compared to 71.3% who did not. A small portion had misconceptions or insufficient information about the illness.

Conclusion:

Students' basic knowledge and awareness of Hepatitis B were adequate, but their vaccination status was insufficient. To safeguard future medical professionals, vaccination uptake must be increased by institutional support, awareness campaigns, and simple access to vaccines.