NURSES' KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN BAGHDAD TEACHING HOSPITALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) considered one of the main reasons in Iraq to cause chronic liver disease, which may progress to life-threatening outcomes. Nurses' knowledge about the HCV will impact their practice of standard precaution when managing HCV patients. The present study aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge about HCV in Baghdad teaching hospitals. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed via distribution of HCV info questionnaires to 150 nurses in three Baghdad teaching hospitals (Al-Kindi, Al-Elwyia pediatric and Sheikh Zayed hospitals). The questionnaire format consists of nurses' demographic data (age, gender, educational level, marital status, years of experience in hospital, workplace in hospital, attending training courses and information sources) and nurses' knowledge of hepatitis C virus (nature of the disease, transmission, prevention, and treatment). The mean score of the knowledge showed fair grade with 66.66±12.9%. As the highest correct percentage displayed in nature of the disease (73%) and treatment (72%). Whereas the lowest correct percentage presented in transmission (69%) and prevention (48.3%). The results exhibited significant difference between the nurses' knowledge about treatment with the information sources (P<0.05), about transmission and prevention with the hospital workplace (P<0.05), and about prevention with the educational level (P<0.005). Continuing educational programs are essential to increase awareness of HCV among the nurses.