Care and treatment of hepatitis C among Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia

Implications for the implementation of new treatments

Bibliographic Data

ID12554338
AuthorsCarla Treloar (0000-0002-8230-0386, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Clair Jackson (UNSW Sydney), Rebecca Gray (0000-0002-5637-623X, UNSW Sydney), Jamee Newland (0000-0003-3599-743X, UNSW Sydney), Hannah Wilson (0000-0003-2667-4700, UNSW Sydney), Veronica Saunders (UNSW Sydney), Priscilla Johnson (0000-0002-9611-6555, UNSW Sydney), L Brener (0000-0002-7453-4852, UNSW Sydney)
Year2015
Volume21
Issue1
Pages39-57
Publication date2015-02-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEthnicity and Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1355-7858 • E-ISSN: 1465-3419
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13557858.2015.1004870
PMID25665723
OpenAlexW2000834649
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited55

Introduction. Despite Aboriginal Australians being over-represented in populations of people living with hepatitis C (HCV), there is a dearth of research to guide policy and programme development in the area of care and treatment, particularly relating to new HCV treatments.Method. In-depth interviews were conducted with 39 people identifying as Aboriginal Australians and living with HCV in New South Wales.Results. Participants' experiences were characterised by a lack of detailed or appropriate information provided at diagnosis, high levels of stigma associated with HCV and low overall knowledge of HCV as reported for themselves and their communities. Despite poor diagnosis experiences, participants had undertaken changes to their lifestyle, especially in relation to alcohol use, in order to promote liver health. Concerns about treatment side effects and efficacy impacted participants' decisions to undertake treatment. Eleven participants had undertaken HCV treatment in a variety of care models with a peer worker and in prison.Conclusions. The similarities between concerns and experiences of Aboriginal people and other populations living with HCV do not suggest that services and strategies to engage these populations should also be the same. These results suggest that further engagement of the primary care sector in HCV care is important as well as increasing Aboriginal community knowledge of HCV. A variety of service models should be available to meet individuals' preferences, including those offered within Aboriginal community controlled health services emphasising holistic notions of health, and supported by information and communication programmes using principles of health literacy relevant to Aboriginal people

Community engagement · Health care · Health literacy · Hepatitis C · Literacy · Political science · Prison · Psychiatry · Public relations · Stigma (botany · Diabetes Management and Education · Hepatitis C virus research · Liver Disease and Transplantation · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Gerontology