Assessment of the Stigma Level of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C in Students of Different Universities

Abstract

The purpose: to study the level of stigmatization and attitude towards patients with chronic hepatitis В (ChHB) and chronic hepatitis C (ChHC) among students of medical and non medical university. Materials and methods. Anonymous questioning was conducted among 194 senior students of two institutions of higher education in the city of Kirov: 96 people from the Kirov State Medical University (group 1) and 98 from the Vyatka State University (group 2) in 2016. The original questionnaire included 16 questions about the socio- The demographic status of the respondent, the epidemiology of HCV and HBV-infection, and the attitude towards patients with ChHB and ChHC. Results. As a result of the study, the presence of stigmatizing devices of different severity in patients with ChHB and ChHC in both groups was revealed. It was established that the level of stigmatization and potential discrimination of patients with ChHC and ChHB in students of non-medical specialties was significantly higher compared to medical students. Respondents of the 2nd group did not sufficiently orientate themselves in the issues of epidemiology of ChHB and ChHC, which led to a negative attitude towards these patients and elements of discrimination. However, in the course of the study, it was noted that one-third of students with medical training, well aware of the ways of transmission of HB/HC-virus, also feared household contacts with such patients. In the course of the work it was shown that significantly more stigmatization and discrimination were manifested in relation to ChHB patients in comparison with ChHC and only in the respondents of the 2nd group. Conclusions. Thus, the study revealed the presence of stigmatizing settings of varying severity in patients with ChHB and ChHC in both groups. It was established that the level of stigmatization and potential discrimination of patients with ChHC and ChHB in students of non-medical specialties was significantly higher compared with medical students.To overcome this problem, it is necessary to conduct planned sanitary education among students without medical training, to deepen the knowledge of students of the medical university, since patients with ChHB and ChHC should not be discriminated.