Back
 AID  Vol.5 No.4 , December 2015
The Use of Appropriate Communication Channels to Understand Life Threatening Diseases: A Study of Viral Hepatitis Infection among Onikolobo Residents in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Amos Kolawole1, Amoo John Kehinde2, Adegboyega Taofeek Tope3, Agu Georgia Chinemenwa4, Tejuosho Wasiu1
Show more
Abstract: This work examines the use of communication channels to sensitize the people about life threatening diseases with special emphasis on Hepatitis. It becomes very topical at this moment because most of the viral infections wreak havoc such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and more recently, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) assumed an epidemic proportion because the people were not adequately sensitized with precautionary measures against them. One of such measures is dissemination of useful information on how to avoid or contain such viral infections. It also concerns itself with hepatitis because of its contagious nature and the way it attacks the liver. The study reviews relevant concepts to information dissemination. It discovers that as deadly as the disease is, most people, including some health attendants in hospitals do not understand what it means and how it is contracted. In addition, it was discovered that 60% of the total respondents did not know about hepatitis. 73% of those who claimed they knew about it knew through friends and not through the media. 80% of those who claimed they sought health information from the media did not know about hepatitis. 65% of those who claimed they had high access to radio did not really seek health information from the radio. In the communities in Nigeria, we suggest that there should be increased public awareness about viral diseases, complete immunization against viral hepatitis and better sanitation facilities. Other efforts by the Government should include the provision of safe drinking water; expansion of well-equipped hospitals among other health developmental programmes will go a long way in the reduction of hepatitis in communities, among pregnant women as well as its associated maternal effects in the communities.
Keywords: Communication, Hepatitis, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Cite this paper: Kolawole, A. , Kehinde, A. , Tope, A. , Chinemenwa, A. and Wasiu, T. (2015) The Use of Appropriate Communication Channels to Understand Life Threatening Diseases: A Study of Viral Hepatitis Infection among Onikolobo Residents in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 5, 189-195. doi: 10.4236/aid.2015.54024.
References

[1]   Santiago-Munoz, P., Roberts, S., Sheffield, J., McElwee, B. and Wendel Jr., G.D. (2005) 6.3% Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Pregnant Women Who Are Infected with HIV. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 193, 1270-1273. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2005.07.002

[2]   Kumar, A., Sharma, K.A., Gupta, R.K., Kar, P. and Chakravarti, A. (2007) Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus among Pregnant Women. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 126, 211-215.

[3]   Abildgaard, N. and Peterslund, N.A. (1991) Hepatitis C Virus Transmitted by Tattooing Needle. Lancet, 338, 460. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(91)91095-C

[4]   Akbar, N., Basuki, B., Mulyanto, Garabrant, D.H., Sulaiman, A. and Noer, H.M. (1997) Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, Transfusions and Risk of Hepatitis B and C Infection. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 12, 752-757. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.1997.tb00365.x

[5]   Luby, S.P., Qamruddin, K., Shah, A.A., Omair, A., Pahsa, O. and Khan, A.J. (1997) The Relationship between Therapeutic Injections and High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection in Hafizabad, Pakistan. Epidemiology and Infection, 119, 349-356. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268897007899

[6]   Roy, K.M., Goldberg, D., Taylor, A. and Mills, P. (2003) Investigating the Source of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Individuals Whose Route of Infection Is Undefined: A Study of Ten Cases. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 35, 326-328. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365540310008429

[7]   Ahmedin, J., Taylor, M. and Ram, C.T. (2004) A New Section in Cancer Offering Timely and Targeted Information. Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 54, 23-25.

[8]   Kwan, L.C., Cho, Y. and Lee, S.S. (1997) The Declining HBsAg Carriage Rate in Pregnant Women in Hong Kong. Epidemiology and Infection, 119, 281-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268897007796

[9]   Kramvis, A. and Kew, M. (2007) Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus in Africa, Its Genotypes and Clinical Associations of Genotypes. Hepatology Research, 37, 9-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00098.x

[10]   Goldstein, S.T., Zhou, F., Hadler, S.C., Bell, B.P., Mast, E.E. and Margolis, H.S. (2005) A Mathematical Model to Estimate Global Hepatitis B Disease Burden and Vaccination Impact. International Journal of Epidemiology, 34, 1329-1339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyi206

[11]   Tran, T.T. (2009) Understanding Cultural Barriers in Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 76, 10-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.76.s3.03

[12]   The Holy Quran. Chap. 39, Verse 9, Translated by Al-Hilali, M.T. and Khan, M.M., King Fahd Complex for the Printing of Holy Quran, Saudi Arabia, 632 p.

[13]   Ezegbudo, C.N., Agbonlahor, D.E., Nwobu, G.O., Igwe, C.U., Agba, M.I., Okpala, H.O. and Ikaraoha, C.I. (2004) The Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Human Immunodeficiency Virus among Pregnant Women in Anambra State, Nigeria. Shiraz E-Medical Journal, 5, 1-25.

[14]   Odusanya, O.O., Alufohai, F.E., Meurice, F.P., Wellens, R., Weil, J. and Ahonkhai, V.I. (2005) Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Vaccinated Children and Controls in Rural Nigeria. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 9, 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2004.06.009

[15]   Alikor, E.A. and Erhabor, O.N. (2007) Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia in Children in a Tertiary Health Institution in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 16, 250-251.

[16]   McMahon, B.J., Alward, W.L.M., Hall, D.B., Heyward, W.L., Bender, T.R., Francis, D.P. and Maynard, J.E. (1985) Acute Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Relation of Age to the Clinical Expression of Disease and Subsequent Development of the Carrier State. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 151, 599-603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/151.4.599

[17]   Chang, M.H. (2000) Natural History of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 15, E16-E19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1746.2000.02096.x

[18]   Sandesh, K., Varghese, T. and Harikumar, R. (2006) Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in the Normal Population and High-Risk Groups in North Kerala. Tropical Gastroenterology, 27, 80-83.

[19]   Dienstag, J.L. (1983) Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis I. Recognition, Epidemiology, and Clinical Features. Gastroenterology, 85, 439-462.

[20]   Melbye, M., Biggar, R.J., Wantzin, P., Krogsgaard, K., Ebbesen, P. and Becker, N.G. (1990) Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus: Cohort Study (1981-9) among European Homosexual Men. BMJ, 301, 210-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.301.6745.210

[21]   Wejstal, R., Widell, A., Mansson, A., Hermodsson, S. and Norkrans, G. (1992) Mother-to-Infant Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus. Annals of Internal Medicine, 117, 887-890.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-117-11-887

[22]   National Institute of Health (2002) Management of Hepatitis C. NIH Consensus Development Program, 19, 1-35.

[23]   Zanetti, A.R., Tanzi, E. and Newell, M.L. (1999) Mother-to-Infant Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus. Journal of Hepatology, 31, 96-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8278(99)80383-3

[24]   Berkley, E.M.F., Leslie, K.K., Arora, S., Qualls, C. and Dunkelberg, J.C. (2008) Chronic Hepatitis C in Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 112, 304-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e318180a4f3

[25]   Mishra, L. and Seeff, L.B. (1992) Viral Hepatitis, A though E, Complicating Pregnancy. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 21, 873-887.

[26]   World Health Organization (1999) Global Surveillance and Control of Hepatitis C. Report of a WHO Consultation Organized in Collaboration with the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 6, 35-47. World Health Organization (2011) Factsheet No. 164.

[27]   Batayneh, N. and Bdour, S. (2002) Risk of Perinatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in Jordan. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10, 127-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S1064744902000121

[28]   Khalil, M.K.M., Al-Mazrou, Y.Y., Al-Jeffri, M., Al-Ghamdi, Y.S., Mishkhas, A., Bakhsh, M., Eisa, M., Nageeb, M. and Tumash, S. (2005) Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Pregnant Saudi Women. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 11, 640-647.

[29]   Ugbebor, O., Aigbirior, M., Osazuwa, F., Enabudoso, E. and Zabayo, O. (2011) The Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viral Infections among Pregnant Women. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 3, 238-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.4297/najms.2011.3238

[30]   Sellati, M.P., Inwoley, A. and Claix, M.L. (2003) Prevalence of Hepatitis B/C Virus and HCV Genotypes in HIV Positive and Negative Women in Abidjan, Ivory Coast West Africa, 8, 974.

[31]   Elsheikh, R.M., Daak, A.A., Elsheikh, M.A., Karsany, M.S. and Adam, I. (2007) Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in Pregnant Sudanese Women. Virology Journal, 4, 104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-4-104

[32]   Awole, M. and Gebre-Selassie, S. (2005) Seroprevalence of HBsAg and Its Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 19, 45-50.

[33]   Tsega, E., Tsega, M., Mengesha, B., Nordenfelt, E., Hansson, B.-G. and Lindberg, J. (1988) Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Ethiopia with Emphasis on the Importance of Vertical Transmission. International Journal of Epidemiology, 17, 874-879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/17.4.874

[34]   Euler, G.L., Wooten, K.G. and Baughman, A.L. (2003) Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Prevalence among Pregnant Women in Urban Areas: Implications for Testing, Reporting, and Preventing Perinatal Transmission. Pediatrics, 111, 1192-1197.

[35]   Kang, H.S., Song, B.C. and Ji, C.X. (2004) Serologic Markers of Hepatitis B Virus in Pregnant Women in Jejuisland. The Korean Journal of Hepatology, 10, 191-196.

[36]   Damale, N.K.R., Lassey, A.T. and Bekoe, V. (2005) Hepatitis B Virus Seroprevalence among Paturients in Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 90, 240-241.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.05.014

[37]   Al-Shamahy, H.A. (2000) Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Risk Factors of HBV Infection in a Sample of Healthy Mothers and Their Infants in Sana’a, Yemen. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 20, 464-467.

[38]   WHO/EPI (1990) Protocol for Assessing Prevalence of Hepatitis B Infection in Antenatal Patients. WHO/EPI/ GEN/90.6.

[39]   Al Awaidy, S., Abu-Elyazeed, R. and Al Hosani, H. (2006) Sero-Epidemilogy of Hepatitis B Infection in Pregnant Women in Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Infection, 52, 202-206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2005.05.006

[40]   Clegg, T. (1991) Hepatitis B Surface and e Antigen Seropostivity in Mothers and Cord Blood at Port Moresby General Hospital: Implication for a Control Program. Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal, 34, 234-237.

[41]   Sidibe, S., Sacko, B.Y. and Traore, I. (2001) Prevalence of Serologic Markers of the Hepatitis B Virus in Pregnant Women of Bamako, Mali. Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique, 94, 339-341.

 
 
Top