Stigmatization of people with viral hepatitis: A medical and social problem
https://doi.org/10.66825/2949-4664-apps-3-3-66-72
Abstract
The issue of stigma faced by patients living with viral hepatitis has attracted insufficient attention in the professional community; however, the few available studies indicate a significant underestimation of its importance. Patients with viral hepatitis report experiencing negative attitudes from others both in everyday life and when accessing medical care. This has a significant effect of their quality of life. The problem of negative attitudes among medical personnel has also been identified, which affects the quality of medical care for patients with viral hepatitis, up to the refusal of its provision in some cases. Stigma associated with chronic viral hepatitis is a widespread problem, arising primarily from a lack of awareness about the infection and its transmission routes. In this review, we emphasize the importance of studying this problem and developing de-stigmatization measures in order to raise the awareness among society and medical professionals about possible infection routes and to form a different image of viral hepatitis patients.
Keywords
chronic viral hepatitis,
stigmatization of patients with viral hepatitis,
quality of life of patients with hepatitis,
discrimination,
hepatitis C,
hepatitis B
Supporting agencies: No external funding was attracted.
About the Authors
A. O. Nikiforova
Federal Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases; Saint-Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Aleksandra O. Nikiforova, Junior Researcher, Department of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases; Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases
9, Prof. Popova St., Saint-Petersburg, 197022; 7–9, Universitetskaya Embank., 199034
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest
V. A. Greshnyakova
Federal Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases; Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University; Saint-Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Vera A. Greshnyakova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Research Department of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases; Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children, Faculty of Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Education; Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases
9, Prof. Popova St., Saint-Petersburg, 197022; 2, Litovskaya St., Saint-Petersburg, 194100; 7–9, Universitetskaya Embank., 199034
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest
L. G. Goryacheva
Federal Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases; Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Larisa G. Goryacheva, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Leading Researcher, Research Department of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases; Prof., Department of Infectious Diseases in Children, Faculty of Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Education
9, Prof. Popova St., Saint-Petersburg, 197022; 2, Litovskaya St., Saint-Petersburg, 194100
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest
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Review
For citations:
Nikiforova A.O., Greshnyakova V.A., Goryacheva L.G. Stigmatization of people with viral hepatitis: A medical and social problem. Archives of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery. 2025;3(3):66-72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.66825/2949-4664-apps-3-3-66-72
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