Barriers to the Clinical Management of Viral Hepatitis in Pankshin LGA of Nigeria: Quantifying the Impact of Cost and Traditional Beliefs on Healthcare Access

Viral hepatitis remains a major global public health challenge, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly from sequelae which include chronic hepatitis B and C infections, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer, despite the availability of effective vaccines and antiviral therapies. This study examined how economic constraints and socio-cultural beliefs shape awareness, knowledge, and treatment-seeking behaviour for viral hepatitis in Pankshin Local Government Area, north-central Nigeria. A community-based cross- sectional survey was conducted across eight communities using a structured questionnaire to collect data on hepatitis awareness, perceived causes, disease severity, treatment preferences, and barriers to clinical management. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data collected. Overall awareness of hepatitis was very high (94.2%), with minimal variation by gender, education or community. However, detailed biomedical knowledge was limited, as most respondents recognised only hepatitis B and C, alongside persistent misconceptions regarding causation, including food, alcohol, and supernatural factors. Although hospital care was the preferred treatment option for most respondents (62.2%), a substantial proportion relied on herbal medicine (32.4%), particularly among those without formal education. High cost of care limited access to health facilities and perceived effectiveness of traditional remedies emerged as key barriers to clinical management, despite widespread optimism regarding curability (87.1%). These findings highlight a critical gap between awareness and effective engagement with clinical care. The study recommended decentralised hepatitis services, expanded affordable screening and vaccination, and culturally sensitive community-based interventions to address economic and belief-related barriers and improve hepatitis control in rural Nigeria.