BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (WHO) put forward a global target to eliminate HCV by 2030. A better understanding of HCV knowledge, testing behaviours, and associated factors in general population is essential to meet the target.
OBJECTIVE
To assess HCV knowledge, self-reported HCV testing behaviours among Chinese general population. Additionally, we explored the characteristics of patients who had less knowledge, and who were less likely to be tested.
METHODS
The cross-sectional online survey of Chinese general population aged 15 years or older was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022. A brief 8-item HCV knowledge scale was used to evaluate HCV knowledge among those who had ever heard of HCV. Those scoring 0 points and who had never heard of HCV were categorized as having “Poor” knowledge, those scoring 1~4 points were categorized as having “Fair” knowledge, whereas those scoring above 4 points were categorized as having “Good” knowledge. Ordinal logistic regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to assess the associated factors with HCV knowledge level and the uptake of HCV testing, respectively.
RESULTS
A total of 812 valid questionnaires were included. Of these, 47.4% (385/812) had ever heard of HCV with a median HCV knowledge score of 6 (Q1, Q3: 2, 7). The proportions of participants who had “Poor”, “Fair” and “Good” knowledge were 59.1% (480/812), 11.2% (91/812) and 29.7% (241/812), respectively. A total of 31.8% (258/812) reported that they had ever tested HCV. The majority were tested for HCV because of blood donation (65.9%, 170/258). The most common reasons why participants did not test HCV were unaware of HCV (67.0%, 371/554). Participants who were less educated, who were located in West China and who currently drink alcohol had a low level of HCV knowledge. Participants with blood donation history and family history of HBV/HCV infection had a high level of HCV knowledge. Female, participants who were less educated, who were located in West China, who currently drink alcohol, and who had poor HCV knowledge had a low proportion of self-reported HCV testing. Participants who had a family history of HBV/HCV infection had a high proportion of self-reported HCV testing.
CONCLUSIONS
The general population has low HCV knowledge and testing rate in China. There is an urgent need to design and distribute education information to enhance HCV knowledge and testing rate. Scaling up screening is recommended in order to facilitate HCV testing and treatment. In addition, persons less educated, belonging to less-developed areas, who currently drink alcohol, and women are the subgroups that should be given priority to health education and testing behaviour intervention.