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  • Podcast Recaps: Barriers to Hepatitis B Programs in Prisons

    … or connection to outside health services after someone is released from prison. So even if someone starts treatment, it might not continue. People are less likely to follow up with care when they are out of the prison system or may lack the resources to navigate the health system on their own.  Recommendations to improve care  Within this review, researchers provided recommendations on how to address these major challenges to hepatitis B prevention, care, and treatment within the prison system. They are described below-   Education makes a big difference  When people understand hepatitis B better — both those in prison and those working there, stigma goes down, and people are more likely to get help. Education programs can make a big difference to address low knowledge and stigma.  Better health systems inside and out  Connecting prison healthcare to public health systems on the outside means care doesn’t have to stop once someone is released. It can be an opportunity to make sure people stay connected to health care after they get out.  Policy changes that put health first  Routine testing and vaccinations for hepatitis B should be part of prison intake. With the right policies, prisons could become places where people actually get the health care they have been missing out on.  This issue is not just about prisons — it’s about public health. If we ignore hepatitis B in these high-risk settings, we miss a big chance to stop the virus from spreading in communities, too. 

    https://www.hepb.org/blog/podcast-recaps-barriers-hepatitis-b-programs-prisons/
  • Podcast Recap: Barriers to Liver Cancer Surveillance

                              In a recent episode on the B Heppy podcast, Dr. Neehar Parikh, a hepatologist at the University of Michigan, discussed the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer, barriers to screening for liver cancer, and screening methods for liver cancer.   Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer  Most people are not unaware of the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer, especially when left untreated or unmonitored. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause serious damage to liver tissue and result in the growth of tumors that may become dangerous over time. This is why doctors recommend patients living with hepatitis B to continue to monitor their liver health and take treatment if necessary to prevent the progression to liver cancer. The best way to check for cancer is by screening. It is recommended to get liver cancer screening (usually through an ultrasound that looks at damaged tissue or abnormal cell growth) once every six months.   Barriers to Liver Cancer Screening  There are several barriers to liver cancer screening at the provider and patient levels. For providers, many times liver cancer screening is not prioritized when compared to other types of cancer screening programs. This is partially due to the limited evidence on liver cancer screening benefits (even though data exists to show that liver cancer screening is valuable, it’s not as strong as the evidence used to back up other cancer screening initiatives like colonoscopy or breast cancer screening). This makes liver cancer a less valuable option for providers to recommend to their patients. Providers are also not always following recommendations or guidelines from liver societies on hepatitis B management and liver cancer surveillance. Liver cancer screening is also not included in the United States Preventative Services Taskforce (USPSTF), which is a tool used by most providers in the

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/podcast-recap-barriers-liver-cancer-surveillance/
  • Understanding the Impact of Drinking Alcohol on Liver Health

    … takes a long time to happen. However, symptoms and signs may not always be present.   What People Living with Hepatitis B Should Know About Drinking Alcohol?  People living with hepatitis B should know that the liver is already weakened by the virus. The hepatitis B virus attacks the healthy liver cells and tissue and causes inflammation. Alcohol use can result in more problems and can put greater stress on the liver. It can speed up the harm to the liver, resulting in serious liver disease. It can lower the body’s ability to defend itself from foreign invaders, such as other viruses and bacteria. Studies have shown that alcohol intake can result in rapid HBV replication, further increasing the risk of cirrhosis and liver disease.   Love your Liver!  In a recently published statement by the World Health Organization, it was found that “no amount of alcohol is safe when it comes to health.” It is important to understand that alcohol, whether little or much, is a toxin and puts the liver at the highest risk as the liver is the natural detox for unwanted and harmful substances. The liver does a lot to keep our bodies protected from harm and acts as a natural defense. But, like people, the liver can also experience burnout. It is very important to keep our liver healthy, safe, and away from

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/understanding-impact-drinking-alcohol-liver-health/
  • CHIPO Partner Highlight: United States Coalition for African Immigrant Health

    … addressing hepatitis and other health concerns at the community level? How have you worked to overcome these? Are there any additional resources that would be helpful to have? The biggest missed opportunities are in vaccination and screening for both hepatitis B and liver cancer. This gap is due to a variety of reasons, including general lack of health insurance and lack of funding for supportive programs, as well as inequities in healthcare access in general for many immigrant communities, which contribute to greater health disparities. Another large barrier is the lack of provider knowledge about the high risk of hepatitis B in AI communities. The best ways to overcome some of these challenges are in the creation and sustainability of programs that are centered on AI communities and are culturally and linguistically competent - this is SO important. Another key element in breaking some of the barriers around cultural humility and especially provider awareness is in establishing partnerships and effective collaborations. Building awareness among trusted community and faith leaders, who in turn can pass this on to community members, is also critical. We have been able to launch and disseminate a podcast that covers health issues affecting AI communities, and we try to feature researchers and guests with lived experience of different health challenges, including hepatitis B, in order to raise awareness, dispel myths and misperceptions, and bring the severity of different health concerns into perspective. We are also working to consolidate resources on our website and to have all partners providing direct services around the country listed on there for easy navigation and connection. Other more broad-sweeping, policy-level changes that need to happen include making hep B screening recommendations universal for all adults; and improving and centralizing linkage to care systems. What do you think are some of the biggest barriers in raising awareness and addressing rates

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/chipo-partner-highlight-united-states-coalition-african-immigrant-health/
  • October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month!

    … Hepatitis B”! We chat with Dr. Rothstein from the University of Pennsylvania about the relationship between hepatitis B and liver cancer. He offers provider insight and recommendations to individuals listening. Check Out Liver Cancer Connect - This program was created to provide individuals and families with the information and support they need when facing the challenge of primary liver cancer. Seek Community Support - Hep B Community a global peer-led, volunteer-driven forum to support those living with and affected by hep B. They are dedicated to connecting people affected by hepatitis B with each other and verified experts in the field, who provide trustworthy and accurate advice. Learn More From Experts - Dr. Robert Gish talks about treatment options for liver cancer. How does the stage of cancer affect treatment? Why are screening and surveillance so important? What are the available treatments and what are the therapies in development? Find out by listening to the webinar.

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/lcam2021/