Hepatitis B prevalence, knowledge and attitudes among health-care workers and antenatal mothers attending a tertiary hospital in South Tarawa, Kiribati: insights from a 2022 cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Thomas Russell Department of Internal Medicine, Tungaru Central Hospital, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Tarawa, Kiribati
  • Vikash Sharma School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji
  • Alice Lee Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.4.1242

Keywords:

Antenatal mothers, health workers, hepatitis B, hepatitis D, Kiribati, Pacific Islands

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis B virus infection is hyperendemic in Kiribati (~15% prevalence rate), with vaccination and antiviral treatment being the mainstays of control. Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes among health-care workers and antenatal mothers are poorly understood.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among health-care workers and antenatal mothers at Tungaru Central Hospital on South Tarawa, Kiribati in 2022. The study included hepatitis B virus serology and a bilingual questionnaire.

Results: Fifty-one health-care workers and 49 women receiving antenatal care participated in the study. Most health-care workers (98.0%) had heard of the hepatitis B virus and most (54.9%) exhibited a moderate level of knowledge. Less than half (46.9%) of the antenatal mothers had heard of the hepatitis B virus and most (63.3%) had a low level of knowledge. Most health-care workers (60.8%) and half of antenatal mothers (49.0%) had satisfactory attitudes towards screening, care-seeking and vaccination, and 93.9% approved of adult catch-up vaccination. Hepatitis B virus prevalence was 23.0% (15.7% of health-care workers, 30.6% of antenatal mothers).

Discussion: Extensive educational campaigns for antenatal mothers are needed to enhance awareness of the infection, while training for health-care workers on transmission, prevention and treatment is critical for informing and galvanizing action on hepatitis B virus.

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Published

18-12-2025

How to Cite

1.
Russell T, Sharma V, Lee A. Hepatitis B prevalence, knowledge and attitudes among health-care workers and antenatal mothers attending a tertiary hospital in South Tarawa, Kiribati: insights from a 2022 cross-sectional study. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 18 [cited 2026 Apr. 9];16(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/1242

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 4 (2025): October – December

Section

Original Research

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