Assessment of knowledge attitude and behavior towards hepatitis B and its vaccine among the population in Benghazi

Background: Hepatitis B (HepB) is a major global public health problem and a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with an estimated 296 million people chronically infected worldwide. In Libya, a 2014 epidemiological study reported a HepB surface antigen (HBsAg) seroprevalence of 2.2% in the general population, classifying the country as having an intermediate level of HBV endemicity.The aim: to assess gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward viral hepatitis among the Benghazi public and examine their association with key demographic factors, in order to inform local efforts toward achieving the World Health Organization’s viral hepatitis elimination targets. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Benghazi in September and October 2023. Online questionnaires with voluntary response sampling were used as a sampling technique. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.28. The p-value ≤0.05 was set as the significance level of the study. Results: 303 participants completed the survey and were included in the present analysis. Of the 303 participants, 191 (63%) were female, with the majority of 137 (45.2%) between 20 and 30 years old. 200 (66%) attended university; 95 (31.4%) are students; and 173 (57.1%) are single. Of the participants, only 29.4% had good knowledge and 70.6% had poor knowledge of HBV and its vaccine. 89.1% of the 303 participants had a positive attitude toward HBV and its vaccine, compared to 10.9% who had a negative attitude. The majority, 66.7%, rated participants' general behavior toward HBV as poor, while 33.3% demonstrated good behavior toward HBV and its vaccine. There is a significant correlation between Attitude with age and behavior with education. Conclusion: The study revealed moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward hepatitis B among the Benghazi public, but preventive behaviors, including screening and vaccination, remained limited. These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness, vaccination promotion, and stigma-reduction programs to support the WHO goal of hepatitis B elimination.