Hollywood celebrity Pamela Anderson's announcement that she has hepatitis C was a major talking point at this recent conference. Unlike similar announcements of HIV infection, Ms Anderson has not positioned herself as a celebrity campaigner — there is no princess or pop star championing the rights of people with hepatitis C or demanding extra funding for research or services. Hepatitis C has been characterised as an "epidemic of difference",1 affecting people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and class backgrounds, with implications for the ability of people with hepatitis C to organise and advocate for changes in policy to improve their lives.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1 National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
- 2 Hepatitis C Council of NSW, Sydney, NSW.
- 1. Appendix E: An epidemic of difference: a social analysis of hepatitis C-related discrimination. In: C-change. Report of the enquiry into hepatitis C related discrimination. Sydney: Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales, 2001; 136-147. Available at <http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb.nsf/pages/hepcreport1>.
- 2. Crofts N, Louie R, Loff B. The next plague: stigmatization and discrimination related to hepatitis C virus infection in Australia. Health Hum Rights 1997; 2: 87-96.
- 3. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in Australia. Annual Surveillance Report 2001. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, 2001. Available at <http://www.med.unsw.edu.au/nchecr/Downloads/01ansurvrpt.pdf>.
- 4. Wodak A. Control of hepatitis C in Australia. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 5. Crofts N. General overview of the hepatitis C epidemic and responses in Australia. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 6. McNally G. Mentoring — developing community responses. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 7. Kerger M, Aitken C, Crofts N. Piloting peer-delivered hepatitis C testing and counselling at a needle and syringe program. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 8. Hopwood M, Southgate E. The 3D project: diagosis, disclosure, discrimination and people living with hepatitis C. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 9. O'Brien M, Byrne J, Gifford S, et al. Living with hepatitis C while currently using drugs — women's experiences. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 10. Gifford S. Quality of life among women with hepatitis C. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 11. Warneke D. A personal perspective on quality of life. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 12. Hanssens R. Hepatitis C: discrimination, stigmatisation is alive and well. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.
- 13. C-change: report of the enquiry into hepatitis C related discrimination. Sydney: Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales, 2001. Available at <http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb.nsf/pages/hepcreport1>.
- 14. Moro P. Where to from here? Discrimination and hepatitis C. Third Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, Melbourne, 25–27 March 2002.