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. 2016 Dec;18(6):1257-1265.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-016-0350-1.

Awareness of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity and Chronic Infection in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Mark H Kuniholm  1 , Molly Jung  2 , Julia Del Amo  3 , Gregory A Talavera  4 , Bharat Thyagarajan  5 , Ronald C Hershow  6 , Oriana M Damas  7 , Robert C Kaplan  2
Affiliations

Awareness of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity and Chronic Infection in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Mark H Kuniholm et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Few population-based studies have assessed awareness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity and chronic infection. We report awareness of HCV seropositivity and chronic infection and correlates of awareness in a multi-city (Bronx, Miami, Chicago, and San Diego) community-dwelling population sample of United States (US) Hispanics/Latinos recruited during 2008-2011. Included were 260 HCV-seropositive participants, among whom 190 had chronic HCV. Among those with chronic HCV, 46 % had been told by a doctor that they had liver disease and 32 % had been told that they had HCV-related liver disease. Among those with chronic HCV who also lacked health insurance (37 % of those with chronic HCV), only 8 % had been told that they had HCV-related liver disease. As compared with the uninsured, those with insurance were over five times more likely to be aware of having HCV-related liver disease (44 %). Sex, age, education, city of residence, and birthplace were not associated with HCV awareness. Less than half of Hispanics/Latinos were aware of their HCV chronic infection. Lack of health insurance may be an important barrier to HCV awareness in this population.

Keywords: Awareness; Hepatitis C virus; Hispanic; Latino; United States.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HCHS/SOL questionnaire items related to liver disease and hepatitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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