JK SCIENCE The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding HBV Infection of Married Women in the Reproductive Age Group living in Cantonment Area, Sunjawan, Jammu

The present study was conducted to know the knowledge, attitude and practices of 300 married women in the reproductive age group living in the cantonment area Sunjawan, Jammu regarding HBV infection. Only 20 % of the women were found aware of the mode of transmission of HBV. However, 50 % of the women were having the misconceptions regarding mode of transmission of HBV. 4 % of women, 30 % of children up to 5 years and 15 % of children above 5 years were fully immunized with hepatitis B vaccine. 80 % of children up to 5 years and 75 % of children above 5 years were fully immunized as per universal immunization programme. Hence, the results of the study clearly indicated the low immunization rate with vaccine against HBV than that under universal immunization programme and further potentiated the need for implementation of the recommendations in 9th five year plan of India regarding introduction of immunization against HBV in universal immunization programme at the earliest. Key words KAP, HBV, Immunization, Perinatal transmissio