title: A survey of knowledge about hepatitis B among new military recruits in China.
abstract: Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver and is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a serious public health problem in China. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge of and behaviours towards the transmission and prevention of hepatitis B of new military recruits in China.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 new military recruits. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to collect information, and 727 questionnaires were returned completed. Analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0, andP< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  
  Of the respondents, 665 (91.5%) were male and 62 (8.5%) were female. The mean age was 18.9 ± 1.7 years. A total of 608 respondents (83.6%) demonstrated poor knowledge and 119 (16.4%) adequate knowledge about HBV. Older age, female and higher education level were statistically associated with a higher mean knowledge score. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age (OR= 3.040, 95%CI 1.724-5.359,P< 0.001) and gender (OR= 1.791, 95%CI 1.325-2.421,P< 0.001) were significantly associated with appropriate behavioural practices towards prevention of HBV.
  
  
  
  Against a backdrop of high HBV prevalence in China, new military recruits had poor knowledge of HBV. New recruits need better education about HBV to assist in reducing and preventing HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Yang-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Jun-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100039 China.
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; Hepatitis B virus; Infection; Knowledge; New recruits