“They treated me like a leper”

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent chronic blood-borne infection in the United States, typically acquired through contaminated blood products or needle sharing. We hypothesized that patients with chronic hepatitis C infection experience stigmatization independent of mode of acquisition and that it negatively affects quality of life. DESIGN:Cross-sectional observation study. SETTING:Specialty clinic in a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS:Two hundred and ninety outpatients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection and seen in a hepatology clinic. Thirty participants were excluded because of missing data. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Patients were asked to complete a demographic profile, a semistructured interview, the Sickness Impact Profile, and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. A team of two blinded coders analyzed the interviews. A total of 147 of the 257 study patients experienced stigmatization that they attributed to the disease. Women were more likely to report perceived stigmatization than men ( P < .05). Age, education, professional status, and mode of infection did not influence the likelihood of stigmatization. Stigmatization was associated with higher anxiety ( P < .01) and depression ( P < .01), worsened quality of life ( P < .01), loss of control ( P < .01), and difficulty coping ( P < .01). Individuals who experienced stigmatization also mentioned problems in their health care ( P < .01) and work environment ( P < .01) as well as with family members ( P < .01). CONCLUSION:

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

“…[10111213] Research findings have revealed that people living with infectious diseases frequently are marginalized and experience considerable stigmatization. [101112] Hepatitis carriers have been described as modern-day “lepers”[14] or “AIDS,”[15] and individuals with HBV as well as their families have felt ashamed about having HBV. [14]…”

“Hepatitis C treatment turned me around:” Psychological and behavioral transformation related to hepatitis C treatment

“…Social factors, including stigma related to HCV and substance use, act as system- and provider-level barriers to HCV treatment (Butt, 2008; Harris and Rhodes, 2013; Lekas et al, 2011; Sgorbini et al, 2009; Swan et al, 2010; Treloar et al, 2013; Zickmund et al, 2003, 2012). Health-care settings, in particular, are frequently associated with HCV-related stigma and discrimination by current and former substance users (Harris and Rhodes, 2013).…”

“…HCV- and substance use-related stigma have been associated with reluctance to disclose HCV status, initiate HCV treatment, and engage in HCV care (Astone-Twerell et al, 2006; Evon et al, 2013; Paterson et al, 2007; Zickmund et al, 2003). While the side effect profiles of interferon-based treatment for HCV likely prevented some HCV-infected individuals from initiating HCV treatment, the advent of lower side effect burden HCV treatment options has reduced individual-level barriers related to side effects (Wei et al, 2014).…”

Hepatitis c patients from west region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil: satisfaction with dental care provided by specialized service

“…Hepatitis C is a stigmatized disease associated to illegal drugs use, HIV/AIDS and promiscuity (ZICKMUND et al, 2003). However, the results found show that most patients of HCV infected group had a stable relationship with a regular partner and only one sexual partner.…”