Infection with the Hepatitis B virus: Knowledge and attitudes among central Sudanese individuals
Authors: Osman IbnIdriss Gwahir Ebrahim , Wahid Mohamed Abdel Wahid Ali Abdel , Ibrahim Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed 
Published: November 2022

Background: Hepatitis B is the most frequent blood-borne viral infection on the globe, with 2 billion infections, 350 million carriers, and 6 million deaths annually. Infections with the hepatitis virus are the leading cause of liver disease all over the world. Sudan is one of the countries with the highest seroprevalence of the hepatitis B virus. The incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen ranged from 6.8% in central Sudan to 26% in southern Sudan, indicating that exposure to the virus ranged from 47% to 78%. Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is most common in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. However, there is a scarcity of published studies on the degree of awareness and attitudes concerning HBV infection among Sudanese people. The focus of this research was to determine the awareness and attitude levels of inhabitants in Almanagil, Gezira State, in Central Sudan regarding HBV infection. Materials and methods: The current research is a cross-sectional, descriptive, community-based study. During the months of April and May 2021, 500 Sudanese people were recruited from the Almanagil was one of the eight localities that made up Gezira State, and it was located in the state's south-western section, data was collected by interviewing respondents through close ended questionnaire. The statistical package for social science (IBM SPSS version 20.0) for Windows software package was used to analyze the data. Result: The participants in the research ranged in age from twenty to sixty, with 255 females and 245 More than 40% of the study's participants learned about hepatitis B via social media 205/500, with over 200 individuals participating. Respondents had a broad range of responses and were clearly mystified as to how viral hepatitis is contracted. Participants cited surgical operations 78%, blood transfusions 87%, mother-child transmission 70%, blood-contaminated devices 85%, needle stick injuries 94%, and sexual contact as examples 76%. According to some participants, virus hepatitis is communicated "through teeth brushing and handshakes 82%,31% respectively," while others believe it is disseminated "via insect bite 38%." Others believed that viral hepatitis might be contracted and transmitted by sharing towels 54% and using nail clippers 68%. Others were skeptical about the hepatitis B virus's ability to be acquired and spread. Hepatitis B virus vaccine is believed to exist by more than 70% of the research participants. Conclusion: According to the results of the current community-based study, a significant portion of the study participants had a sufficient understanding of the hepatitis B virus in terms of risk factors and transmission routes between communities, as well as the provision of vaccination to those who were most susceptible to diseases. Using the resources at hand, promoting health education and community awareness. In terms of disseminating information among society's members, social media is incredibly effective.