School adolescents' knowledge concerning hepatitis C virus (HCV)

• Main Authors: Lidia Sierpińska (Author), Ewa Jankowska (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland - University Sports Center, 2017-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2450-6605; 2450-6605; 10.12775/PPS.2017.004
• Keywords: hcv infection; adolescents' knowledge; Special aspects of education; LC8-6691; Sports; GV557-1198.995; Psychology; BF1-990
• Source: Pedagogy and Psychology of Sport, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 33-49 (2017)

<p><span>Introduction.</span><span> Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious clinical, epidemiological and social problem in Poland. </span></p><p><span>Objective.</span><span> The objective of the study was recognition of knowledge concerning HCV infection among adolescents attending post-secondary schools. </span></p><p><span>Material and method.</span><span> The study was conducted in 2016, among 106 school adolescents attending two post-secondary schools in Radom, by means of a questionnaire designed by the author and a standardized questionnaire according to the Polish Group of HCV Experts. Statistical analysis was performed using the software Statistica 10.0. </span></p><p><span>Results.</span><span> The majority of adolescents (84.5%) knew that HCV causes hepatitis C. Boys more frequently than girls knew that the disease spreads by contact with infected blood </span></p><p><span>(72.0% and 50.6%, respectively). Girls significantly more often than boys knew that approximately 700,000 people in Poland are infected with HCV (54.3% and 24.0%, respectively). According to 84.1% of respondents everyone is exposed to this infection. Boys more often than girls (72.0% and 55.6%) correctly provided examples of situations in which the infection may occur. The majority of adolescents (88.5%) knew that the hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) blood test indicates whether the person has an infection. A half of the examined adolescents (50.9%) knew that</span><span>there is currently no vaccine available to protect against hepatitis C, and that it is possible to cure the person infected with HCV</span><span>.</span></p><p><span>Conclusions.</span><span> The </span><span>level </span><span>of </span><span>adolescents' </span><span>knowledge </span><span>concerning </span><span>HCV </span><span>infection </span><span>varied according to the demographic and social factors. School adolescents should be provided </span>incentives for prophylaxis of infection and participation in prophylactic programmes, in order to limit the risk of contracting hepatitis C.</p>