Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Study of Hepatitis B Infection among Medical Students of Udaipur: A Cross‑Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global public health concern, particularly forhealthcare workers and medical students due to their frequent exposure to blood and body fluids. Despite theavailability of effective vaccines and preventive measures, gaps in awareness and practices persist among futurehealthcare providers.Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding Hepatitis B infection amongundergraduate medical students in Udaipur and identify factors influencing preventive behavior.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 undergraduate medical students using a pretested,semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire covered demographic details and KAPrelated items. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis to evaluate relationshipsbetween knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.Results: Out of 420 participants, 59.3% demonstrated good knowledge, 71.2% showed a positive attitude, butonly 54.8% were fully vaccinated. Awareness regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (35.4%) and anti-HBs titertesting (18.9%) was low. A total of 31.2% reported having had a needle-stick injury, but less than half formallyreported it. A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores (p <0.05).Conclusion: While knowledge and attitudes toward Hepatitis B among medical students were satisfactory,actual preventive practices were inadequate. The gap between awareness and implementation underscores theneed for institutional strategies such as mandatory vaccination, enhanced HBV education, and improved safetyprotocols