Ahn HR, Cho SB, Chung IJ, Kweon SS. Socioeconomic differences in self- and family awareness of viral hepatitis status among carriers of hepatitis B or C in rural Korea.
Am J Infect Control 2018;
46:328-332. [PMID:
29103635 DOI:
10.1016/j.ajic.2017.09.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis is the most important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea. This study evaluated the socioeconomic differences in self- and family awareness of hepatitis status among hepatitis B and C carriers and their cohabitants in rural Korea.
METHODS
In total, 5,017 randomly selected rural residents participated in a seroepidemiologic and questionnaire survey. We found 326 hepatitis B surface antigen carriers or hepatitis C antibody carriers and 310 family members cohabiting with members of this group.
RESULTS
Among the hepatitis B carriers and their family members, 48.1% were aware of their own status and 36.7% were aware of their cohabitant's hepatitis status, respectively. Only 28.1% of the hepatitis C carriers were aware of their own status, and only 23.3% of their cohabiting family members knew about their family member's hepatitis C status. A multivariate analysis including health-related factors, such as alcohol consumption, family history of liver disease, and recent acupuncture history, found that self-awareness was significantly lower in the older group and significantly higher in the more educated and higher-income groups. Family awareness was also increased in those working in salaried jobs.
CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic disparities in awareness of hepatitis status were found among hepatitis carriers and their families.
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