Assessment of General Knowledge and Perceived risk of contracting Hepatitis B Among Health Care workers in Ahmadu Bello University Medical Center, Samarun Zaria, Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is proven to offer 90%–100% protection in individuals who generate adequate antibody responses. In light of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended routine HBV vaccination, particularly for high-risk populations such as healthcare workers (HCWs), to mitigate the risk of infection. Nigeria has developed national guidelines for the prevention, care, and treatment of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), incorporating HCW vaccination as a key preventive strategy within healthcare environments. Despite being a readily identifiable group for targeted vaccination efforts, HCWs often exhibit suboptimal compliance with vaccination protocols due to various influencing factors. This study aimed to assess the general knowledge, perceived risk of HBV infection, vaccination status, and overall risk perception among HCWs at Ahmadu Bello University Medical Center, Samaru, Zaria. A non-experimental, descriptive research design was employed, utilizing self-developed questionnaires administered face-to-face to 80 purposively selected participants. Data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24 and results were presented in tabular format. The results reveal that all respondents had prior knowledge of Hepatitis B, understood it was caused by a virus, and recognized vaccination as a key preventive measure. A majority also identified modes of transmission such as needle pricks, contaminated instruments, unscreened blood transfusion, body fluid contact, and unprotected intercourse. About 95% of participants knew the infection could be treated. The perceived risk of contracting Hepatitis B among HCWs was high, with an aggregate mean score of 3.525, indicating strong awareness of occupational vulnerability. Therefore, the government and non-governmental organizations should organize workshops and seminars to deepen HCWs’ understanding and promote complete vaccination.