Factors impacting late diagnosis of BBV infections in Liverpool V.1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving blood-borne viral (BBV) infection diagnoses and poor linkage to care for minority ethnic communities in Liverpool.
IRAS ID
316113
Contact name
Charlotte Haines
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 3 days
Research summary
Blood-borne viral (BBV) infections are global public health issues. In the UK an estimated 105,200 people are living with HIV, 180,000 with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and 118,000 people with chronic hepatitis C (HCV).
In the UK, ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by BBV infections. Particularly, people born in countries with a higher prevalence. In 2019, new HIV diagnoses were over 50 times higher amongst ethnic minorities compared to individuals of white British ethnicity and 62% of new HIV diagnoses were among migrants.
This is an issue in the North-west of England, which has the UK’s second highest rate of new HIV diagnoses. Ethnic minorities are also more likely to be diagnosed with HIV late than individuals of white British ethnicity. This is important as late diagnosis of HIV can lead to an increased risk of transmission, illness and death.
Viral hepatitis infections can remain asymptomatic, often leading to a late stage diagnosis, increasing morbidity and mortality, such as end stage liver disease and cancer.
In the UK, ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected, with positivity 5-6 times higher among individuals from a south Asian and eastern European background.
Uptake of HIV testing and services among ethnic minorities remains low and in Liverpool half are diagnosed late. Similarly, around 50% of individuals in the North-west with chronic viral hepatitis are unaware of their infection. Further research to better understand why ethnic minorities may be presenting late to BBV services is needed, to identify any gaps or barriers in access to testing and health service provision. Furthermore, identify how services can be improved to increase linkage into care in Liverpool and address this current inequality.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
23/IEC08/0009
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion