Correlates of hepatitis B virus-related stigmatization experienced by Asians: A scoping review of literature

Abstract

Objective:Although remarkable progress in the pharmacological components of the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and liver cancer has been achieved, HBV-related stigma is recognized as a major barrier to HBV management. The purpose of this Revised Social Network Model (rSNM)-guided review was to examine the existing research literature about HBV-related stigma among Asians and Asian immigrants residing in other countries.Methods:A scoping review of literature was conducted to determine the depth and breadth of literature. Totally, 21 publications were identified. The review findings were linked with the concepts of rSNM to demonstrate how individual factors and sociocultural contexts shape and affect the experience of HBV-related stigma.Results:Most studies were quantitative cross-sectional surveys or qualitative methods research that had been conducted among Chinese in China and in the USA. The three concepts in rSNM that have been identified as important to stigma experience are individual factors, sociocultural factors, and health behaviors. The major factors of most studies were on knowledge and attitudes toward HBV; only three studies focused on stigma as the primary purpose of the research. Few studies focused on the measurement of stigma, conceptual aspects of stigma, or interventions to alleviate the experience of being stigmatized.Conclusions:The scoping review revealed the existing depth and breadth of literature about HBV-related stigma. Gaps in the literature include lack of research address group-specific HBV-related stigma instruments and linkages between stigma and stigma-related factors.

Diagnosis Rates of Chronic Hepatitis B in Privately Insured Patients in the United States

“…13 The reasons for this may be associated with both clinician and patient factors, which include clinician and patient knowledge and a higher index of suspicion of the presence of CHB among specialists, despite the social stigma and patient cultural beliefs associated with CHB diagnosis. [14][15][16][17] Therefore, additional efforts must be directed toward both patient and primary health care clinician education, patient counseling, and a public campaign to end social and workplace discrimination against patients with CHB. These interventions are especially important…”

A crowdsourced intervention to decrease hepatitis B stigma in men who have sex with men in China: A cohort study

“…First, measures of HBV stigma are inconsistent . Second, studies frequently conflate evaluations of stigma with that of HBV knowledge, despite evidence showing that knowledge does not necessarily correlate with stigma . Third, there are few reports on interventions to reduce HBV stigma.…”

“…Third, there are few reports on interventions to reduce HBV stigma. Among publications in English, studies on HBV stigma have been observational and limited in scope, or do not assess stigma quantitatively . To fill these gaps, rigorous research on interventions for HBV stigma is urgently needed.…”

An Investigation into the High Prevalence of Hepatitis B in a Rural Area of Kerala State, India: Hypothesis on Chrysops sp. (Diptera: Tabanidae) Transmission

“…As a result people were not always forthcoming regarding the presence of hepatitis B in their family. Barriers to screening for hepatitis B due to a traditional stigma attached to this disease has already been described in Asian communities [ 24 , 25 ]. Also hepatitis B infection is subclinical in 70 percent of adults and 90 percent of children younger than five years [ 26 , 27 ].…”