Stigma Faced by Patients with Hepatitis in Türkiye: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction

Structural stigma (SS) is one of the main types of stigma and refers to stigmatizing processes that occur above the individual level. SS among patients with hepatitis in Türkiye and worldwide has rarely been studied. We aimed to determine the experiences of SS among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and identify factors that may be associated with SS. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with CHB or CHC infection. The survey included questions about experiences of SS in five different domains: the workplace, marriage procedures, healthcare settings, military service, and procedures for traveling abroad. Experiencing stigma in at least one domain or being required to undergo hepatitis testing and obtain physician approval in any domain was defined as overall SS experience.