Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Oct 2015)

Hepatitis B and C in a Brazilian deaf community

  • Bianca Messenberg Pacher,
  • Marina Ribeiro Barreto da Costa,
  • Margarida Maria Passeri do Nascimento,
  • Maria Cecilia de Moura,
  • Afonso Dinis Costa Passos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0058-2015
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 5
pp. 603 – 606

Abstract

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ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION:Although deaf people are exposed to hepatitis B and C risk factors, epidemiological studies regarding these diseases in deaf people are lacking.METHODS:After watching an explanatory digital versatile disc (DVD) in Brazilian Sign Language, 88 deaf people were interviewed and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV).RESULTS:The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was 8%; they were associated with incarceration and being born outside the State of São Paulo. No cases of hepatitis C were identified.CONCLUSIONS:Participants showed a substantial lack of knowledge regarding viral hepatitis, indicating a need for public policies that consider linguistic and cultural profiles.

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