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Educational Awareness of Sub‐Sahara Immigrants to the USA Hepatitis B and C infection in a US Population
Author(s) -
Agubokwu Juliana,
Tulp Orien,
Einstein George
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.02259
Subject(s) - nigerians , medicine , socioeconomic status , marital status , hepatitis b , transmission (telecommunications) , hepatitis c , population , immigration , incidence (geometry) , demography , immunology , environmental health , geography , physics , electrical engineering , archaeology , optics , sociology , political science , law , engineering
To determine the incidence and extent of Hepatitis B and C infection education amongNigerian Immigrants and the need for development of hepatitis infection educational criterion, a survey was conducted among Nigerian immigrants to the USA and the results subjected to statistical analysis . Hepatitis B [HBV] and C [HCV] infection is a significant and common infectious illness in Sub Sahara Africa, where HBV has infected approximately 400 million and HVC 170 million inhabitants, respectively. Migration from a country of high hepatitis [HBV and HCV] is a risk factor for post migration infection and dissemination and their implications in their new habitat. This study examined the level of knowledge, perception, and attitude of Nigerian immigrants living in the United States towards hepatitis HBV and HCV infection with the goal of creating awareness of the disease and its mode of transmission for Nigerians in general.A quantitative survey was conducted using survey monkey questionnaire [n=132]. Fisher exact tests were performed to compare the perceptions of HBV and HCV infections, infection behaviors, the perceptions of use of Western and traditional medicine among Nigerians and educational awareness of the illness. The SPSS was used to analyze the study. Results Of the 132 participants who responded to the survey, statistically significant interactions were found on the perceptions of infections, educational awareness, infection behaviors between Nigerian men and women, use of Western and traditional medicine and the level of hepatitis education of Nigerians on HBV or HCV.Perceptions of the infection between age group, marital status, and socioeconomic status of Nigerian immigrants were equally significant.Conclusion:There is significant lack of knowledge of HBV and HCV infection, transmission and treatment found among immigrant Nigerians living in the US, therefore, there is a need for greater educational awareness in this population of Sub Sahara immigrants.