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ISSN Approved Journal | | IMPACT FACTOR 8.16 | | eISSN: 2582-5542 | |  Free Crossref DOI 

Fast Publication within 2 days | | Low Article Processing Charges | | Peer Reviewed and Referred Journal

Research and review articles are invited for publication in September 2026 (Volume 27, Issue 3) Submit Paper

Disparities in Hepatitis B Knowledge and Perception among Senior High School Students in Northern and Southern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

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  • Disparities in Hepatitis B Knowledge and Perception among Senior High School Students in Northern and Southern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sharon Aa-Inir Karbo 1, Godson Ndubueze 1, *, Ihunanya Onukaogu 1, Daniel Adeyemi Adepoju 2 and Adekola George Adepoju 3

1 Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
2 Department of Pediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
3 Department of Pediatrics, Safe Parturition Specialist Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

Research Article
 
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2023, 15(01), 221-232
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2023.15.1.0324
DOI url: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2023.15.1.0324

Received on 16 June 2023; revised on 24 July 2023; accepted on 28 July 2023

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major public health challenge in Ghana, yet gaps persist in understanding regional disparities in awareness among high-risk groups like adolescents. This study assessed HBV knowledge and perceptions among Senior High School students in northern (Bolgatanga) and southern (Accra) Ghana, where healthcare access and education vary significantly.
Method: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with 128 students (64 per region), selected via random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed with SPSS v23, employing chi-square and t-tests (p<0.05 significance).
Result: It was revealed that while 91.4% of students had heard of HBV, only 18% could accurately define it, and fewer than 30% understood transmission routes or symptoms. Awareness was significantly higher in Accra (OR: 5.07, p=0.027), with schools being the primary information source (36.7%). Alarmingly, 46.1% believed infected individuals should be isolated, reflecting pervasive stigma, particularly in the north (54.7% vs. 37.5%, p=0.076). Despite 78.1% vaccination coverage, knowledge gaps persisted, highlighting disconnects between immunisation programs and education.
Conclusion: This study highlights stark regional disparities in HBV knowledge, demanding urgent, tailored interventions. School-based education, media campaigns in underserved northern regions, and vaccination drives paired with anti-stigma initiatives are essential. Future research should investigate long-term awareness trends and the cultural roots of misconceptions. Without addressing these gaps, Ghana’s fight against HBV will fall short of its public health goals. 

Hepatitis B virus (HBV); School-based interventions; Ghana; Adolescents; Regional disparities; Vaccination; Public health policy; Health education

https://wjbphs.com/sites/default/files/fulltext_pdf/WJBPHS-2023-0324.pdf

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Sharon Aa-Inir Karbo, Godson Ndubueze, Ihunanya Onukaogu, Daniel Adeyemi Adepoju and Adekola George Adepoju. Disparities in Hepatitis B Knowledge and Perception among Senior High School Students in Northern and Southern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2023, 15(01), 221-232. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2023.15.1.0324

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