Factors Associated with Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Students at Kankou Moussa University Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection, 2025

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B (HBV) remains a major public health concern in Mali, where its prevalence is still very high. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward hepatitis B virus infection among students at Kankou Moussa University (UKM). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 January to 18 December 2025, among 425 medical and pharmacy students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software (version 25.0). Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.25 ± 2.64 years, with a female predominance. More than half (50.1%) of the participants had good knowledge, 88.7% had a positive attitude, and 51.3% demonstrated good practices. A statistically significant association was found between students’ knowledge and level of education (aOR = 0.30; 95% CI [0.11–0.78]). Students’ attitudes were significantly associated with age (aOR = 0.31; 95% CI [0.10–0.98]), second-year level of study (aOR = 0.14; 95% CI [0.04–0.49]), and third-year level of study (aOR = 0.16; 95% CI [0.05–0.56]). Students’ practices were associated with close contact with parents or relatives affected by HBV (aOR = 0.58; 95% CI [0.34–0.98]). Conclusion: Students at UKM demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge and a favorable attitude toward hepatitis B. However, preventive measures, particularly screening and vaccination, remained low. In addition, general biosafety practices did not comply with recommended standards. The factors associated with the dependent variables were age, academic level, frequent contact with relatives or close acquaintances infected with HBV, and experience in patient management. Strengthening training and awareness from the early years of study is therefore essential. In addition, regular vaccination and screening campaigns should be organized within the university to reduce the risk of infection.