Public misperceptions about transmission of hepatitis B virus in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Asia. Good public knowledge on disease transmission is one way of controlling spread of HBV. We aimed to study the general knowledge on HBV among the general public in Singapore, which is moderately prevalent with HBV.


METHODS
Before conducting a public education seminar on liver diseases, a 16-point questionnaire survey was conducted among the participants. Misperceptions (if any) were identified, and factors associated with knowledge score were analysed by multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety-two subjects completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 52 years, 78 (41%) were male, 183 (95%) were Chinese, 17 (9%) were known hepatitis B carriers and 73 (38%) had completed college education. The mean knowledge score was 10.7 (out of a maximum of 16). Most misperceptions were in the category of HBV transmission. At multivariate analysis, having college education was the only independent factor associated with a high knowledge score.


CONCLUSIONS
Although HBV infection is moderately prevalent in Singapore, many misperceptions existed among the general public, especially on the mode of transmission. Better education was related to better knowledge of HBV. Further public education should be targeted to clear the misperceptions identified, and be specifically targeted to the less educated.
Lu
Wei
W
Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Mak
Belinda
B
Lim
Seng Gee
SG
Aung
Myat Oo
MO
Wong
Mee Lian
ML
Wai
Chun Tao
CT
D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires