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KMID : 1143420200130010018
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Public Health Weekly Report
2020 Volume.13 No. 1 p.18 ~ p.26
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Hepatitis C Awareness Survey Results and the Development of a Self Checklist
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Kim Sung-Nam
Ahn Yeong-Seo
Bahk Hyun-Jung
Lee Hyung-Min
Lee Si-Won
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Abstract
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Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection. In its acute phase, 70% of the symptoms are asymptomatic and, therefore, difficult to
detect. Furthermore, the level of hepatitis C awareness among the general Korean population is low. Because hepatitis C is curable by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and early detection is very important, research projects to improve the public’s
awareness and understanding of hepatitis C are critical. This study’s ‘Hepatitis C Awareness Survey’ collected data from
1,000 adult males and females ages 19 to 80 across Korea, as well as that of 120 medical professionals (physicians and
nurses) working in the Seoul metropolitan area. The study investigated the recognition rate of hepatitis C, the prevention
behavior of hepatitis C, and the promotion of hepatitis C prevention. The study was conducted from July 24 to August 19,
2019, by the Korea Social Research Institute (KSOI). According to the findings, the recognition rate of hepatitis C among the general Korean public was 34.0%, a significant increase from 10% in 2009, but the recognition rate was still low compared to recognition rates of hepatitis A (72.8%) and B (79.3%). Even among medical professionals, only 39.2% had treated or cared for patients with hepatitis C. Regarding the prevention behavior of hepatitis C, 46.8% of the non-medical respondents said they often share personal hygiene products (such as razors, nail clippers, and toothbrushes) with others, and 17.9% of the non-medical respondents reported that they had undergone unlicensed procedures (such as injections, acupuncture, tattoos, and piercings). To understand more about the early detection of hepatitis C, the self checklist was developed based on real-life behaviors that expose people to hepatitis C. This study recommended that the self checklist be distributed widely and utilized effectively to alert the public to the importance of hepatitis C prevention and early detection. As part of the ‘National Hepatitis Management Plan’, established in 2019, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) plans to push ahead with an early detection hepatitis C project from 2020. Furthermore, in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 goal of combatting viral hepatitis, Korea will actively participate in the effort to
combat hepatitis C.
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KEYWORD
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Hepatitis C, Awareness, Self checklist, Hepatitis C early detection
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