BMC Infect Dis. 2026 May 4. doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-13500-6. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a crucial strategy for achieving global HBV elimination by 2030. As HBV testing forms the foundation of effective PMTCT programs, empowering women of reproductive age to accept HBV testing and screening services is essential. This study applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour to investigate the impact of psychosocial factors, including attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and risk perception, on HBV testing intentions among women of reproductive age.
METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years attending child welfare and family planning clinics in rural northern Ghana. Participants were selected using simple random sampling and completed a structured, pretested questionnaire based on constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Composite sum scores were computed for each construct, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Spearman’s correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, with statistical significance set at p < .05.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 27.12 years (SD = 5.8). In the main-effects regression model, attitude (β = 0.650, p < .001), perceived behavioural control (β = 0.275, p < .001), and risk perception (β = 0.061, p = .022) were significant predictors of HBV testing intention, while subjective norms were not statistically significant. The model explained 75.3% of the variance in testing intention (R² = 0.753). When the interaction between attitude and subjective norms was added, the interaction term was statistically significant (β = -0.108, p < .001), accounting for an additional 1.1% of variance (ΔR² = 0.011).
CONCLUSION: Attitude and perceived behavioural control were the primary predictors of HBV testing intention among women of reproductive age in rural northern Ghana. Risk perception showed a smaller association with intention, while subjective norms did not independently predict intention but moderated the relationship between attitude and intention. Interventions aimed at increasing HBV testing intention should prioritise strengthening positive attitudes and enhancing women’s perceived ability to access testing services.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is a cross-sectional study and hence did not involve any experimentation or trial; clinical trial registration was not applicable in this case.
PMID:42082944 | DOI:10.1186/s12879-026-13500-6
