TY  - JOUR
TI  - Assessment of Stigma Exposure Status of Patients with 
Hepatitis B Infection
AB  - Objectives: Although stigma is well defined in people with a 
chronic disease or condition, it has not been studied much in 
individuals infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). The study is one 
of the first descriptive individual studies conducted on this subject 
in our country. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the stigma 
experiences and concerns of individuals living with HBV, their 
sharing of their illness with the environment, and the state of being 
affected by their social relationships.
Materials and Methods: Patients with hepatitis B surface 
antigen positivity who were admitted to the infectious diseases 
outpatient clinic were surveyed through face-to-face interviews. 
Epidemiological data, stigma experiences and anxiety states, people 
with whom they shared their illness, the reasons for not sharing, the 
impairment of social relations were questioned.
Results: It was found that 19.5% of 390 individuals infected with 
HBV who participated in our study were “exposed” to stigma in 
various ways, and 27.4% were “worried” about experiencing 
this condition. In research, 19.9% of women, 41.4% of university 
graduates, and 34.8% of divorced or widowers were found 
to experience higher stigma (p=0.002, p=0.02 and p<0.001, 
respectively). It was determined that 56.7% of the participants 
did not share their illnesses, and this need increased with stigma 
experiences and anxiety. It was found that individuals mostly shared 
their disease status with their first-degree relatives (p<0.001). 
Conclusion: The fact that individuals infected with HBV experience 
different forms of stigma or experience anxiety suggests that there 
is a need to investigate these conditions and develop treatment 
interventions.
AU  - YILDIZ, ILKNUR ESEN
AU  - YAVUZ, Ayten Yılmaz
AU  - Bahçeci, İlkay
AU  - kostakoglu, ugur
AU  - erturk, ayse
DO  - 10.4274/vhd.galenos.2021.2021-5-1
PY  - 2021
JO  - Viral Hepatitis Journal
VL  - 27
IS  - 2
SN  - 2147-2939
SP  - 80
EP  - 88
DB  - TRDizin
UR  - http://search/yayin/detay/513996
ER  -