Hepatitis B knowledge and stigma in the United Arab Emirates

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Social Science

Background:

• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) causes 1.2 million new infections globally each year.
• The UAE is a low-endemic region with no prior studies on HBV stigma.
• Understanding population knowledge, vaccine attitudes, and stigma is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) knowledge among the UAE population.
• To assess attitudes towards the HBV vaccine.
• To measure stigmatizing attitudes towards HBV infection in the UAE.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 601 participants in the UAE.
• Utilized the validated Hepatitis B Virus - Stigma Scale (HBV-SS).
• Employed Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis tests, OLS regression, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Main Results:

• 77.5% had some HBV knowledge, but only 19.3% possessed good knowledge, with gaps in symptoms, complications, and treatment.
• 84.03% were interested in learning more about HBV.
• 57.6% were aware of the vaccine, with overwhelmingly positive attitudes; overall non-stigmatizing attitudes prevailed, though specific items showed stigma.

Conclusions:

• The UAE population demonstrates low HBV knowledge but generally non-stigmatizing attitudes.
• Perceived knowledge significantly predicts lower stigma.
• Public health campaigns should enhance HBV infection and vaccine knowledge, reinforcing vaccine acceptance and reducing stigma.