Evaluation of Awareness and Information Level Regarding Hepatitis B Infection among a cohort of Egyptian Patients and Their Relatives: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and study aim: In Egypt, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains an existential national health issue, notwithstanding the observed drop in infection rates. This study aimed to assess the cohort of Egyptian patients and their families’ basic knowledge and attitude toward HBV infection.Patients and Methods: In 2022, a cross-sectional study using questionnaires was conducted at Tanta University Hospital in Egypt among patients with confirmed HBV infection and their family members. Personal information, health history pertaining to HBV, knowledge of HBV routes of transmission, vaccination, and prevention were all addressed in the questionnaire.Results: Of the 150 participants, 85.3% were positive for HBV infection, 14.7% were relatives of those patients, and 57.3% had information about how HBV is spread. About 40.7% wrongly believed that HBV can’t be transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus. Only 24.2% of participants had the HBV vaccination. 56 individuals of 148 have scanned their children for infections. And only seven of them had positive results from diagnostic tests. After completing the questionnaire, 49 patients were able to explain how they acquired HBV infection.Conclusion: According to survey results, boosting hepatitis B education across all strata of society is necessary to reduce the rate of HBV transmission in our community.