Hepatitis B Infection and Social Stigma: a study in Tehran

Introduction: Millions of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) affected people live around the world. Although, the progress in vaccination and treatment has been changed the picture of hepatitis B . According, hepatitis b health-related stigma as a barrier for health service use, still shows its important role. The current study aimed to understand the social knowledge and stigma of HBV in a selected community of Iran.Method: Based on a well-defined study design and through the cross-sectional hospital-based study ,we recruited ۸۶۰ hepatitis B affected people. After informing about the purpose of the research, each men or women that referred to these hospitals and were satisfied could enter the study. Interviews were carried out with individuals’ informed consent. Stigma and knowledge questionnaire need to be finished independently within a ۲۰-minues. . We applied The EMIC stigma scale for evaluating the stigma. The mean , standard deviation and multiple linear regression models was used to analysis the data that carried out with SPSS ۲۱ software.Result: The ۸۶۰ participants (۳۹.۸۸% males ,۶۰.۱۱% females) were entered. The distribution of age among respondents were ۳۲.۴۳±۸.۱ years. The total mean score of stigma in this study was ۳.۸۶ that was greater than ۲ represents a strong perception among participants. Also, in some domains such as the shame or embarrassment, worthless considering, believe in adverse effect on others, community avoidance and refuse to get patients home, disclosure and marriage, the score of stigma was apparently heavier than the other domains.Conclusion: A lot of health care promotions have been occurred in the area where the hepatitis B isn’t endemic area but stigma still a remained concern. This study showed that there is a relationship between the stigma, knowledge of people, being single, unemployment and younger age of affected people.

Keywords:

Hepatitis B , Stigma , psychology , emotional health