Knowledge about Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Haemodialysis Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v17isupp1.003Abstract
Background: Iraq has a 7.1% prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among its population. The transmission of HCV within haemodialysis (HD) units has been linked to higher infection rates among patients, leading to poorer survival outcomes. Objective: Assess the level of knowledge about the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among patients undergoing haemodialysis treatment. Methods: A descriptive (cross-sectional) study was conducted in Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital from January 14th, 2024, to March 20th, 2024, by interview method. A Non-Probability (Purposeful Sample) of (100) patients who attended the haemodialysis department for treatment and follow-up. Results: The study results revealed that the majority of the sample population (67%) was male, with 46% falling within the age range of 46-60 years old. Furthermore, 44% of the participants had only primary education. Notably, 52% of the respondents demonstrated knowledge about Hepatitis, with a physician being the primary source of this knowledge. The analysis showed that 62% of the participants had a moderate level of knowledge about Hepatitis C, while 30% had a poor knowledge level, and 8% had a good knowledge level. Conclusion: The majority of research participants have a moderate level of knowledge about hepatitis C. It was found that individuals who had prior knowledge about Hepatitis C tended to have more comprehensive knowledge compared to those who did not. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve public awareness and knowledge about Hepatitis C, particularly among older adults with limited education.
Keywords:
Hemodialysis, Hepatitis C Virus, Infection, KnowledgeDownloads
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