DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i07.022

Pages: 2408-2411

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem, currently about one-third of the world population has been infected with HBV. As because of emergence of the blood-borne pathogen like HBV and admission of the number of patients with HBV infection are also increases in the hospital, thereby prfessionals like MBBS and Nursing students are at risk. As hepatitis B infection is a major health hazard throughout the world, healthcare students should have commplete knowledge about the transmission of the disease and its preventive measures. Total 425 students of MBBS and Nursing of Jorhat Medical College were included in the study using self administered questionnaire consisting of knowledge and behaviour. Out of 425 students, 70.5% were MBBS and 29.5% were Nursing students. The response rate was 100 % .The knowledge about the source of information regarding the Transmission of HBV was 88.3%. Majority of the students (88.3% of MBBS and 82.4% of Nursing students have gathered the information from medical literatures. The level of knowledge was higher among MBBS students than nursing students. Multiple responses were observed in both MBBS and Nursing students in knowledge regarding route of transmission of HBV. The level of knowledge regarding clinical presentation of disease was higher among MBBS students (84.5% for fever) as compared to Nursing students (44.8%). Knowledge regarding personal protective measures were 100% in both groups.