Gays At Higher Risk For Hepatitis But Fewer Than 50% Immunized
Mon. December 15, 2003 12:00 AM by 365gay.com
San Francisco, CA -
More than half of America's gays and bisexuals are at risk of contracting hepatitis A or B according to a newly released study.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two serious liver diseases which disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.
Type A can be spread by rimming or scat with a person already infected. In addition, both A and B can be transmitted through body fluids such as semen.
Symptoms of both types of hepatitis include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach discomfort, dark urine and jaundice. In 5% to 10% of cases, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic and may cause primary liver cancer, which can lead to death.
But, both can be prevented through vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association recommend routine vaccination against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Last summer the GLMA conducted a survey at Pride events across the country. The results have now been processed, and the organization says it is distressed at the findings.
40% were not immune to hepatitis A and 32% were not immune to hepatitis B. For 20% of respondents it was impossible to judge their immunity to either hepatitis A or hepatitis B from their survey responses.
The survey also found that race played a factor in getting vaccinated. Among white respondents, 36% were immune to hepatitis A and 43% to hepatitis B. Among Latino respondents, 32% were immune to both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Only 26% of African American respondents were immune to hepatitis A and 29% to hepatitis B.
The GLMA attributes much of this to disparities in access to healthcare
86% of white respondents had healthcare coverage, compared to 77% for African American respondents and 66% for Latino respondents.
Additionally, respondents who were "out" to their provider were 65% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A and 52% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B.
"These results clearly show how much work still needs to be done to protect gay and bisexual men in the country against hepatitis A and hepatitis B," said Ken Haller, MD, President of the Board of the GLMA. "Gay and bisexual men need to ask their providers about hepatitis vaccination, and providers need to be trained to make sure their gay and bisexual male patients are protected against these diseases."
"Equally troubling are the healthcare disparities shown in these survey results," said Haller. "Men with lower incomes are less likely to be immune, as are Latino and African American men. Men whose providers do not know they have sex with other men are also less likely to be protected: another reason to demand open and non-judgmental communication between gay and bisexual men and their providers."
©365Gay.com® 2003
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two serious liver diseases which disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.
Type A can be spread by rimming or scat with a person already infected. In addition, both A and B can be transmitted through body fluids such as semen.
Symptoms of both types of hepatitis include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach discomfort, dark urine and jaundice. In 5% to 10% of cases, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic and may cause primary liver cancer, which can lead to death.
But, both can be prevented through vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association recommend routine vaccination against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Last summer the GLMA conducted a survey at Pride events across the country. The results have now been processed, and the organization says it is distressed at the findings.
40% were not immune to hepatitis A and 32% were not immune to hepatitis B. For 20% of respondents it was impossible to judge their immunity to either hepatitis A or hepatitis B from their survey responses.
The survey also found that race played a factor in getting vaccinated. Among white respondents, 36% were immune to hepatitis A and 43% to hepatitis B. Among Latino respondents, 32% were immune to both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Only 26% of African American respondents were immune to hepatitis A and 29% to hepatitis B.
The GLMA attributes much of this to disparities in access to healthcare
86% of white respondents had healthcare coverage, compared to 77% for African American respondents and 66% for Latino respondents.
Additionally, respondents who were "out" to their provider were 65% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A and 52% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B.
"These results clearly show how much work still needs to be done to protect gay and bisexual men in the country against hepatitis A and hepatitis B," said Ken Haller, MD, President of the Board of the GLMA. "Gay and bisexual men need to ask their providers about hepatitis vaccination, and providers need to be trained to make sure their gay and bisexual male patients are protected against these diseases."
"Equally troubling are the healthcare disparities shown in these survey results," said Haller. "Men with lower incomes are less likely to be immune, as are Latino and African American men. Men whose providers do not know they have sex with other men are also less likely to be protected: another reason to demand open and non-judgmental communication between gay and bisexual men and their providers."
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.