Hepatitis C and injecting-related discrimination in New South Wales, Australia

Hepatitis C-related discrimination is reportedly common, however few studies have investigated this phenomenon. This paper presents findings from a cross-sectional study of people with self-reported hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (N = 504) conducted in New South Wales (NSW), Australia throughout 2001 and 2002. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire enquiring into their experience of living with HCV. Over a half of the participants (57.5%, n = 290) reported that they had acquired their infection from injecting drug use. Discrimination was reported by 64.7% (n = 326) of participants and healthcare was the most commonly reported site where discrimination occurred. A logistic regression identified the predictors of any discrimination as: knowing many other people with HCV infection; feeling tired due to HCV symptoms; and being younger (< 51 years). Predictors of higher levels of discrimination were: knowing many other people with HCV infection; being limited in the time spent with family, friends, neighbours and groups due to HCV; and feeling pessimistic about HCV treatment and the future because of HCV-related ill health. Although discrimination occurred in a range of social domains, effort is needed to improve healthcare workers' service delivery to people with HCV. Continued discrimination may inhibit people from seeking a range of health services and impede efforts to contain the epidemic.