Torres Strait Islanders’ understandings of chronic hepatitis B and attitudes to treatment
Elayne Anderson A , Jeanne Ellard B C and Jack Wallace BA James Cook University, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville City, Qld 4811, Australia.
B La Trobe University, Australian Centre in Sex, Health and Society, 255 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: J.Ellard@latrobe.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(4) 316-319 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14130
Submitted: 28 August 2014 Accepted: 11 February 2015 Published: 2 September 2015
Abstract
Indigenous Australians are disproportionally affected by hepatitis B compared with non-Indigenous Australians. The higher prevalence of hepatitis B among Indigenous Australians has been linked to an increased incidence of liver cancer in this population. There is evidence that comprehensive programs of hepatitis B virus management, which include liver cancer surveillance and appropriate antiviral therapy, offer a cost-effective approach to reduce the incidence of liver cancer in Australia. This paper reports on data from the first study investigating understandings of hepatitis B and attitudes to treatment among Torres Strait Islanders living with chronic hepatitis B. Forty-two participants completed an interview questionnaire. Participants typically had an unclear understanding of hepatitis B and reported significant gaps in monitoring and follow up. A majority of participants indicated a willingness to use treatment if required. The findings of this study suggest the need for a new service delivery model that is appropriate to remote communities such as the Torres Strait Islands, to improve hepatitis B follow up, disease monitoring and management, and where appropriate, the uptake of treatment.
Additional keywords: chronic illness, Indigenous health, viral hepatitis.
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