Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a
major global health concern, responsible for estimated
500,000 to 1.2 million human deaths each year. The
clinical manifestations of HBV-related deaths usually
arise after chronic-hepatitis includes liver cirrhosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma. The transfusion of blood is a
critical risk point for inadvertent transmission of
Hepatitis B virus at emergency healthcare points. This
poses a significant public health challenge especially in
developing countries. The impact of this challenge in
Ikenne Local Government area is yet to be estimated.
This study was designed to assess the level of attitude of
blood donors in the four major towns in Ikenne Local
Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
A questionnaire survey enlisted 143 blood donors at
selected blood banks in Ikenne, Ilishan, Iperu and Irolu
towns in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State,
from February 4th to March 24th, 2021. Data collected
were summarized using descriptive and correlation test
statistics. Some 120 (93.9%) of the respondents were 18-
34 years old. Unpaid donors accounted for 102 (78%) of
the respondents. There (2.8%) of the respondents were
confirmed positive for Hepatitis B virus before. Some
113 (86.9%) agreed that people should freely go for
laboratory screening. Two-third 82 (63.1%) of the
respondents indicated they knew where to get screened.
The mean ± standard deviation of attitude of
respondents was 4.207 ± 0.859, while a weak positive
correlation was found between respondents’ Attitude
and their risk behaviour (R = 0.225; P = < 0.010).
Blood donors previously screened for the virus in
general had better behavioural attitude that were
compliant with Hepatitis B prevention, compared with
previously unscreened individuals who exhibited high
risk behaviour to the virus.
Keywords : Knowledge, HBV (Hepatitis B virus), Ikenne Local Government Area