Chronic hepatitis B, like hepatitis C, can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. The hepatitis C virus is most commonly found among young adults between the ages of 25 and 40. Hepatitis C affects 2.1 percent of all Hispanics, compared to 1.5 percent of all non-Hispanic whites. It is projected that, by the year 2050, one of every four Americans will be Hispanic. As this population grows, the impact of viral hepatitis in this community threatens to affect more and more Hispanic men, women and children if left unchecked.
Information Needs Information about viral hepatitis in the Hispanic community is sorely lacking.
Nearly 70 percent of all Hispanic Americans identify themselves as Spanish dominant. Spanish language television reaches 92 percent of all Hispanic homes, and three of four Hispanics listen to Spanish language radio. The Spanish language media could play a crucial role in providing Hispanics with the hepatitis information they need to know. However, a recent media analysis of Spanish language media demonstrates that the topic is not being widely reported by these influential information sources. Hepatitis A is primarily spread through fecal contamination, when people don't wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.