Knowledge Attitude and Practice about Hepatitis C Virus and Associated Factors among Waste Handlers at Public Hospitals of Sidama Region, Ethiopia: Facility Based Cross Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) is worldwide community health problem that gives rise to liver cancer. Even though prevalence of HCV is higher and waste handlers being at high risk for HCV, there is scarcity of information on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) concerning HCV among waste handlers. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study from Oct 2021 to 30 July 2022 in different public Hospitals of Sidama Region aimed to evaluate KAP of HCV among randomly selected waste handlers was undertaken amongst 282 respondents. KAP regarding HCV were assessed using standardized structured questionnaire. Descriptive summary measures were done. Multivariate logistic regression was accompanied with 95% confidence interval and P-value < 0.05 was confirmed statistically significant. To assess the association between the KAP, Spearman’s rho correlation were used. Results: Mean scores for KAP were 22.24±8.15, 46.75±10 and 4.19±1.72 respectively. Educational level (OR = 2.427; 95% CI = [1.116 –37.89], P = 0.042), monthly income (OR = 1.001; 95% CI = [1.000–10.002], P = 0.029), use of media (OR = 2.461; 95% CI = [2.688–8.799], P = 0.006), marital status (OR = 22.961; 95% CI = [1.203–38.157], P = 0.037) and residence (OR = 6.332; 95% CI = [1.703–23.544], P = 0.006) contributed significantly to the prediction of knowledge. Spearman rank correlation revealed significant positive correlations between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.57, P < 0.037), knowledge-practice (r = 0.265, P = 0.00) and attitude-practice (r = 0.72, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Although the study highlighted optimal KAP with regards to several aspects of HCV, educational campaigns should emphasize the necessity of continued education about HCV in order to more improve attitudes, knowledge and practices of waste handlers regarding HCV