The knowledge and reported vaccination status of hepatitis B virus amongst medical students in a Nigerian tertiary teaching hospital

Objective: Preventing the occupational risk of contracting the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is against a backdrop of knowledge and vaccination. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of the medical students on HBV infection and their vaccination status.Method: A cross-sectional study on was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Data of 202 students were analyzed using SPSS v. 20. Descriptive statistical tests were applied.Result: Subjects' ages ranged from 19 to 36 years, mean age of 25.65± 3.3years, 54.1% were males. The knowledge score on general knowledge was 79.2%, on risks factors and mode of transmission of virus was 74.9% whilst on prevention was 89%. The reported vaccination status was 22.8%. Eighty one of them (40.1%) had been tested for the HBV with 4(4.9%) testing positive.Conclusion: The medical students had good knowledge of the Hepatitis B virus however the vaccination status was low.Keywords: Chronic Hepatitis B, Health care workers, mode of transmissio