title: Knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection among traders.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problem in Nigeria, with 13% of its general population having evidence of a previous or current infection. Lack of awareness of HBV, its risk factors, and its consequences are recognized as major deterrents to adopting positive preventive behavior including immunization among HBV high-risk groups.
  
  
  
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of HBV infection among traders.
  
  
  
  A structured KAP questionnaire on HBV infection was administered to traders as part of the activities to mark the World Hepatitis Day in 2014. A score was created for the correct answer to 20 questions.
  
  
  
  A total of 335 traders were interviewed for this study. The mean age was 33.08 ± 13.8 years and the median age was 29 years. There were 165 males and 170 females. Majority of the traders had secondary education (57.1%) and were of the Ibibio and Igbo tribes. Only 10.4% had HBV vaccination. Only 44.2% of the traders reported having any knowledge of HBV. The most common source for the knowledge was television/radio (25%) and hospitals (22%). The median (interquartile range) of the overall KAP score was low (11, 5-16). The score was least in persons aged 35 years and above, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.33).
  
  
  
  The knowledge of HBV is low among traders in Calabar metropolis. There is need to intensify educational campaigns for the general public.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Ngim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haematology Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Inyama
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Diseases, Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M Kooffreh-Ada E
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Esu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ndoma-Egba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Diseases, Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ezedinachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination