This exploratory study focuses on the knowledge and awareness of hepatitis C, and attitudes towards people living with hepatitis C, in the Australian-Egyptian community. Surveys were completed by 121 participants recruited in inner and suburban Sydney. Significant gaps in hepatitis C knowledge existed around transmission and treatment. A favorable attitude towards people living with hepatitis C, having heard about hepatitis C, and having had a blood test for hepatitis C, independently predicted better hepatitis C knowledge. Positive attitudes towards people with hepatitis C were found to be positively correlated with participants knowing someone with hepatitis C but negatively correlated with the amount of time spent in Australia. This study strengthens the findings of previous research that knowledge of transmission and treatment of hepatitis C among migrant communities is poor. Findings emphasize the need for further research concerning culturally appropriate hepatitis C interventions and information.
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2010). Third National Hepatitis C Strategy 2010–2013. Canberra: Author.
3.
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. (2007). Estimates and projections of the hepatitis C virus epidemic in Australia 2006. Sydney: Author.
BalfourL.KowalJ.CoraceK.M.TascaG.A.KrysanskiV.CooperC.L. (2009). Increasing public awareness about hepatitis C: Development and validation of the brief hepatitis C knowledge scale. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science, 23(4), 801–808.
6.
BryantJ.WilsonH.HullP.LavisY., & TreloarC. (2010). Drug use, hepatitis C and exposure to injecting among young people in New South Wales: The big day out survey 2006–2009. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales.
7.
BuffingtonJ.RowelR.HinmanJ.M.SharpK., & ChoiS. (2001). Lack of awareness of hepatitis C risk among persons who received blood transfusions before 1990. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 47–48.
8.
ButtG.PatersonB., & McGuinnessL. (2008). Living with the stigma of chronic hepatitis C. Western Journal of Nursing Research30(2), 204–221.
9.
CaruanaS.R.KellyH.A.De SilvaS.L.CheaL.NuonS.SaykaoP. (2005). Knowledge about hepatitis and previous exposure to hepatitis viruses in immigrants and refugees from the Mekong region. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 29(1), 64–68.
10.
CelonaA.F.YuM.C.PrakashM.KuoT., & BonaciniM. (2004). Hepatitis C in a Los Angeles public hepatitis clinic: Demographic and biochemical differences associated with race-ethnicity. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2(6), 459–462.
11.
CoppolaA.G.KarakousisP.C.MetzD.C.GoM.F.MhokashiM.HowdenC.W. (2004). Hepatitis C knowledge among primary care residents: Is our teaching adequate for the times?American Journal of Gastroenterology, 99, 1720–1725.
12.
DarwishM.A.FarisR.DarwishN.ShoumanA.GadallahM.ElSharkawyM.S. (2001). Hepatitis C and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: A community-based study. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 64(3), 147–153.
13.
DavisT.C.DolanN.C.FerreiraM.R.TomoriC.GreenK.W.SiplerA.M. (2001). The role of inadequate health literacy skills in col-orectal cancer screening. Cancer Investigation, 19(2), 193–200.
14.
DayC.RossJ., & DolanK. (2003). Hepatitis C-related discrimination among heroin users in Sydney: Drug user or hepatitis C discrimination?Drug and Alcohol Review, 22, 317–331.
15.
DevA., & SievertW. (2002). A survey of Australian general practice management of hepatitis C-infected patients from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hematology, 17, 295–300.
16.
DevA.SundararajanV., & SievertW. (2004). Ethnic and cultural determinants influence risk assessment for hepatitis C acquisition. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hematology, 19, 792–798.
17.
DoabA.TreloarC., & DoreG. (2005). Hepatitis C treatment knowledge, attitudes and barriers among current injecting drug users in Australia. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 40 (Suppl. 50), s313–320.
18.
El-KhobyT.GalalN.FenwickA.BarakatR.El-HaweyE.NoormanZ. (2000). The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Egypt: Summary findings in nine governorates. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 62(2), 88–99.
19.
EndrawesG.O'BrienL., & WilkesL. (2007). Mental illness and Egyptian families. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16(3), 178–187.
20.
FrankC.MohamedM.K.StricklandG.T.LavanchyD.ArthurR.R.MagderL.S. (2000). The role of parenteral antischistosomal therapy in the spread of hepatitis C virus in Egypt. Lancet, 355(9207), 887–891.
21.
LehmanE.M., & WilsonM.L. (2008). Epidemic hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt: Estimates of past incidence and future morbidity and mortality. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 16, 650–658.
22.
MacDonaldM.CroftsN., & KaldorJ. (1996). Transmission of hepatitis C virus: Rates, routes, and cofactors. Epidemiol Rev, 18, 137–48.
23.
MezbanZ., & WakilA. (2006). Hepatitis C in Egypt. The HCV Advocate Medical Writers' Circle, August, 1–2.
24.
MisonL.M.YoungI.F.O'DonoghueM.CowleyN.ThorltonN., & HylandC.A. (1997). Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and genotype distribution in an Australian volunteer blood donor population. Transfusion, 37, 73–78.
25.
NCHECR (National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research). (2005). HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia Annual Surveillance Report 2005. Sydney: Author.
26.
NCHECR. (2009). HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia Annual Surveillance Report. Sydney, Author
27.
NewmanJ. (1998). Managing cultural diversity: The art of communication. Radiological Technology, 69, 231–241.
28.
O'BrienS.DayC.BlackE., & DolanK. (2008). Injecting drug users' understanding of hepatitis C. Addictive Behaviors, 33(12), 1602–1605.
29.
PatersonB.L.BackmundM.HirschG., & YimC. (2007). The depiction of stigmatization in research about hepatitis C. International Journal Of Drug Policy, 18(5), 364–373.
30.
PybusO.G.DrummondA.J.NakanoT.RobertsonB.H., & RambautA. (2003). The epidemiology and iatrogenic transmission of hepatitis C virus in Egypt: A Bayesian coalescent approach. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(3), 381–387.
31.
RazaliaK.TheinH.H.BellJ.Cooper-StanburgM.DolanK.DoreG. (2007). Modelling the hepatitis C virus epidemic in Australia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 91(2–3), 228–235.
32.
RobotinM. C.CoplandJ.TallisG.ColemanD.GieleC.CarterL. (2004). Surveillance for newly acquired hepatitis C in Australia. Journal of Gastroenterology Hepatology, 19, 283–288.
33.
SteinM.D.MaksadJ., & ClarkeJ. (2001). Hepatitis C disease among injection drug users: Knowledge, perceived risk and willingness to receive treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 61(3), 211–215
34.
StewartD.E., & DoB.N. (2003). Health needs of migrant Vietnamese women in South-West Brisbane: An exploratory study. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 38(2), 247–261.
35.
TreloarC.AbelsonJ.CrawfordJ.KippaxS.HowardJ.van BeekI. (2003). Risk for hepatitis C: Transition and initiation to injecting drug use among youth in a range of injecting drug user networks. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales.
36.
TreloarC., & HopwoodM. (2004). Infection control in the context of hepatitis C disclosure: Implications for education of healthcare professionals. Education for Health, 17, 183–191.
37.
Van de VenP.YoudellD.SmithA.MistlerG., & PanY. (2001). Hepatitis and health: A survey of high school students in New South Wales. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales.
38.
VuT.L.H.GuZ.WatsonJ.DeanJ.PeetA.DunneM. (2009). Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese and Vietnamese in Brisbane 2009. Queensland: University of Technology.
39.
WalleyA.Y.WhiteM.C.KushelM.B.SongY.S., & TulskyJ.P. (2005). Knowledge of and interest in hepatitis C treatment at a methadone clinic. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 28, 181–187.
40.
WilliamsM.V.DavisT.ParkerR.M., & WeissB.D. (2002). The role of health literacy in patient-physician communication. Family Medicine, 34(5), 383–389.
41.
WilsonH.HopwoodM.HullP.LavisY.NewlandJ.BryantJ. (2010). Treatment decisions: What makes people decide to have treatment for hepatitis C, key findings. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales.
42.
WongP.Y.DoddR.KielyP.CarrollC., and WhyteG. (1999). Characteristics of hepatitis C-positive blood donors in Victoria, Australia. Transfusion Medicine, 9, 15–19.
