Canadian women’s experiences receiving a hepatitis C diagnosis

Detecting hepatitis C early in women is key for accessing timely care, treatment and support to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Having a chronic illness can be especially difficult for women because of its social impact, particularly when the illness is as stigmatized as hepatitis C. This stigma can also create barriers to healthcare access.

Diagnosis is a critical opportunity for connecting people to hepatitis C care. However, some research has found that people often have a poor experience with the hepatitis C testing process. Some people with hepatitis C report that they perceive that healthcare workers have negative attitudes toward them. They also report that healthcare workers provide little support or information about hepatitis C. When people diagnosed with hepatitis C have limited information, it can result in reduced follow-up and access to hepatitis C care, increased fear about hepatitis C and feeling a lack of control over one’s health.

A recent study aimed to better understand the experiences of Canadian women who receive a hepatitis C diagnosis and to provide recommendations about how to improve hepatitis C testing experiences.

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