PLoS One. 2018 Apr 12;13(4):e0195455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195455. eCollection 2018.
The experience of discrimination of individuals living with chronic hepatitis B in four provinces of China.
Han B1, Yuan Q2, Shi Y1, Wei L3, Hou J4, Shang J5, Han Y6, Jin C7, Chan PL8, Zhuang H9, Li J9, Cui F1.
Author information
1
Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
2
National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
3
Hepatology Unit, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
4
Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
5
Hepatology Unit, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
6
Hepatology Unit, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
7
Central sterile supply Department, 302 Military Hospital of China, Beijing, China.
8
World Health Organization China, Beijing, China.
9
Department of Microbiology and Center of Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To assess chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients' knowledge about hepatitis B and their experience of discrimination with regard to study, work, and daily life.
METHODS:
We administered a questionnaire to 797 CHB patients in four provinces of China and used one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a generalized linear model (GLM) to identify factors associated with discrimination.
RESULTS:
CHB patients had low levels of knowledge about hepatitis B. Patients under 40 years of age with a junior college education or above knew more about hepatitis B than CHB patients over 40 years of age who had only a high school education. Three-fourths of patients had experienced discrimination because of their hepatitis B infection, with no differences in the proportion experiencing discrimination by sex or age. People with more education reported less discrimination. Patients in Beijing and Henan province perceived less discrimination than those in Shaanxi and Guangdong provinces. Discrimination was significantly associated with negative emotions. CHB patients had little awareness of China's anti-discrimination laws and policies. Among patients who had experienced discrimination, fewer than 10% knew organizations or institutions that could offer help. Over 60% of CHB patients who experienced discrimination chose not to respond.
CONCLUSION:
CHB patients in China commonly experienced discrimination, which was associated with significant, negative emotional stress. To mitigate the damaging effects of discrimination, our study suggests raising general population knowledge about hepatitis B, raising awareness of the availability of legal protection and organizations that can fight discrimination, and providing psychological support for CHB patients.