142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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303546
Barriers to Care Contributing to Health Disparities among African-Americans Living with Hepatitis C Virus

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Omar Sims, PhD, MSW , School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), and liver transplantation in the United States, and there are myriad health disparities in the current HCV era. Although African Americans only account for 12% of the population in the United States, HCV is more than twice as prevalent among African Americans than European-Americans (3.2% vs. 1.5%), and is highest among any racial/ethnic group in the US. HCV seroconversion (development of infection after exposure) is more likely in African Americans than European Americans and the risk and progression towards HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma from infection is 2-3 times greater among African Americans. Though the rate of HCV infection and chronic liver disease is disproportionately highest among African Americans, African Americans have the lowest rates of HCV testing by medical providers; and if tested, they are less likely to be referred and linked to care and treatment for HCV. The objectives of this presentation are to inform public health social workers of health disparities facing African Americans living with HCV and to identify key barriers to care permitting the unfortunate continuation of these health disparities.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain the long-term public health impact of HCV health disparities among African Americans. Name key factors that contribute to HCV health disparities among African Americans. Formulate plausible solutions to eliminate barriers to care that will in turn achieve reductions in health disparities among African Americans living with HCV.

Keyword(s): Hepatitis C, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently principal investigator of a 2-year longitudinal intramural funded grant examining clinical management of HCV, I have a R01 proposal under review where I serve as co-investigator examining alcohol use among those with HCV, I have published manuscripts on HCV, and I have 5 years of interdisciplinary clinical experience providing care to those with HCV infection.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3315.0: Public Health Social Work Section Poster Session