Living with hepatitis B virus infection; media messaging matters

Abstract

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is of public health importance due to its high prevalence and infectivity. A positive test for HBV has psychological, emotional, and socio-economic implications that may affect the quality of life of the clients. The media is a major source of information and awareness creation on many health related issues including HBV. This study explored how media messaging on HBV influenced coping among persons infected with HBV. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted among clients who reported at the STI clinic for routine care at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Descriptive content analysis involving deductive and inductive approaches were applied. The findings show that radio was the main source of HBV related information. Misinformation on the transmission, chronicity and prognoses of HBV infection was mostly conveyed by traditional medicine practitioners on the media. These resulted in adverse emotional, social, and physical reactions such as fear and panic, isolation and loneliness, sleeplessness and unsafe health seeking behaviours. However, access to scientific information from health professionals resulted in empowerment and positive coping. More need to be done to regulate the content of HBV-related messages aired so as to avoid misinformation and its consequent negative impact on coping.