Background
"Hepatitis A, B and C are serious and often debilitating diseases that have reached epidemic proportions in the African-American community," said Dr. Lucille C. Norville Perez, president of the National Medical Association.
Data indicates viral hepatitis disproportionately affects the African-American community due to underutilization of immunization, screening and lack of proper preventative treatment. In fact, it is estimated that among adolescents, African-Americans are three to four times more likely than Whites to have hepatitis B infection. (1)
Further, African Americans are two to three times more likely to have been exposed to hepatitis C (HCV) than Caucasians. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conservatively estimates that approximately 4 million Americans have been infected with hepatitis C, which accounts for approximately 1.8% of the total U.S. population. Of these, the CDC estimates that 2.7 million Americans are chronically infected with HCV. However, it is estimated that 3.2% of the African American population in this country, or 880,000 people, have been infected with HCV. This accounts for 22% of all the individuals with hepatitis C in the United States. This compares to 2.1% of Mexican Americans and 1.5% of Caucasians.
In 2001, it was reported that the infection rate among African-American males in the 40-49 age group was an estimated 10%. The reasons for the higher rate of infection are not completely understood, but there is some speculation that African-Americans are at greater risk for contracting HCV:
1. through occupational exposure (an estimated 3 million African-Americans are employed as health-care professionals)
2. blood transfusions (which may be required to treat sickle cell anemia, which mostly affects African Americans)
3. documented higher prevalence of injection drug use
4. limited access to information on HCV and preventative medical care
HCV diagnosis and prevention measures require access to information about hepatitis C. It is evident that information about HCV has not effectively reached the majority of African-Americans in this country. A public awareness poll conducted by the American Liver Foundation found that compared with the general public, African Americans are not as aware of the risk factors or symptoms of hepatitis. In addition, a recent media analysis discovered that there has been little news coverage of hepatitis C in the African American press, which is a trusted resource and plays a critical role in informing the African American community. (2)
Problem
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Few African-American youths and adults are aware of their susceptibility to the hepatitis A, B, and C viruses.
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African-Americans routinely underutilize immunization, screening and treatment services and have less access to routine medical care.
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African-American youths and adults in isolated locations (such as correctional settings and drug treatment centers), often go unimmunized, although they present several risk factors.
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According to the CDC, acute hepatitis B disproportionately affects African-Americans, accounting for 65% of all cases of acute viral hepatitis compared with 22% among Whites.
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HBV infection is more than four times higher among African-Americans (11.9 percent) than among Whites (2.6 percent).
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Studies show that African-Americans not only have the highest rates of chronic hepatitis C, but also a higher mortality rate from resulting liver disease than Whites.
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The highest observed rate of hepatitis C is among African-American men aged 40 to 49 years of age. This group has a prevalence of nine percent, according to the CDC.
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Once infected with HCV, the chance of becoming a chronic carrier is greater in African-Americans (86%) than in Whites (68%).
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According to the CDC, mortality associated with HCV is expected to triple in the next ten years in all racial groups
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Lack of awareness regarding the impact of these diseases on the body
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Low percentage of infected individuals receiving treatment
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Failure of infected individuals to complete treatment (3)
Source, The National Medical Associatin (NMA), Group Issues Guidelines to Educate African Americans About Viral Hepatitis), 10/24/01
Source, The National Medical Association (NMA), Group Issues Guidelines To Educate African Americans About Viral Hepatitis), 10/24/01
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