**4. Results**

A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed and 560 were returned, giving a response rate of 93.3%. The very high response rate might be due to face-to-face interaction with the study participants. Non-respondents were not followed up. The demographic profile of study participants, including frequencies of gender, marital status, screening results, etc. are shown in following **Table 1**.

Descriptive statistics for each item in the questionnaire are given in **Tables 1**–**6**. **Table 1** is related to the demographic profile of the study participants. In our study, females participated more as compared to the males, such as 395 (70.5%) participated and from which 498 (88.9%) were married and 314 (56.1%) were housewives. Socioeconomic status of 189 (33.8%) was from 10,000 to 20,000. The prevalence of hepatitis B was found to be 18(3.2%), hepatitis C 104 (18.6%), and both positive 17 (3%). It showed the high prevalence of hepatitis C.

The responses of the participants toward the hepatitis knowledge were assessed by the questions focusing on the types of hepatitis, sign and symptoms, vaccination available, and oral treatment of hepatitis, **Table 2**. Out of 560 participants, 275 people (49.1%) knew the term of hepatitis. Two hundred twenty-two (39.6%) participants did not know about the sign and symptoms of hepatitis. The descriptive statistics showed that 451 (80.5%) did not know the availability of vaccination for hepatitis B. Attitude toward hepatitis was assessed by asking ten questions as shown in **Table 3**. Three hundred and thirty-six (60%) respondents strongly agreed that hepatitis can cause death. Out of 560 participants, 322 people (57.5%) strongly agreed that blood transfusion from hepatitis patients is the cause of hepatitis. In addition, 313 (55.9%) remained neutral on asking question no 6 that is; vaccination of hepatitis is only for children.

The practice toward hepatitis was assessed and described in **Table 4**. Descriptive statistics showed that 327 (58.4%) participants respond never to question to exercise. On asking if they avoid meeting hepatitis patients 420 (75%) respond on never. Three hundred and seventy-three (66.6%) participants said that they use filter plant water. In addition, 480 participants (85.7%) never vaccinated themselves.

Out of 560 participants, majority of the people (146) obtained information regarding hepatitis from the Health Care Professionals (HCP). In addition, 206 (36.8%) found the role of government satisfactory (**Tables 7**–**9**).


#### **Table 1.**

*Demographic profile of study participants.*




**Table 2.**

*Responses to hepatitis knowledge items.*


#### **Table 3.**

*Attitude toward hepatitis.*

#### **Ranking/scoring:**

0 (0%)–12 (52%) Poor 13 (56%)–18 (78%) Moderate 19 (82%)–23 (100%) Good

#### *Health and Educational Success – Recent Perspectives*


#### **Table 4.**

*Practice related to hepatitis.*


#### **Table 5.**

*Information obtained regarding hepatitis.*


#### **Table 6.**

*Role of government in prevention and treatment of hepatitis.*


*Awareness and Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Rural Areas of Lahore, Pakistan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109192*


#### **Table 7.**

*Categorization of study population in different knowledge ranks by using chi-square test.*


#### *Health and Educational Success – Recent Perspectives*


#### **Table 8.**

*Categorization of study population in different attitude ranks by using chi-square test.*


*Awareness and Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Rural Areas of Lahore, Pakistan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109192*


#### **Table 9.**

*Categorization of study population in different practice ranks by using chi-square test.*

The results of chi-square test showed a significant difference between the knowledge of single and married participants of the study (p = 0.017). According to marital status mean score, the single people had more knowledge than the married participants of the study. Another significant finding of the study was that although there was no significant difference between KAP of undergraduates and postgraduates; however, there was a statistically significant difference between knowledge of participants (p = 0.014) belonging to different educational categories (primary, secondary, and illiterate) as compared to undergraduates. Test result shows that participants belonging to undergraduate level showed high mean score on knowledge section than participants belonging to postgraduate level. Chi-square test results revealed that there is no significant difference in knowledge of male and female (p = 0.416) but the mean score value of male participants was greater than compared to females. The other demographic factors of knowledge section, such as occupation, socioeconomic status, and screening test results also showed nonsignificant p-values of 0.223, 0465, and 0.521, respectively.
