Did you know that NSW Health’s Hepatitis B Strategy calls for every pregnant woman to be tested for hepatitis B?
For women diagnosed within antenatal screening, a positive result can be pretty alarming, with issues around:
- feeling dirty and contaminated,
- worrying about transmission to baby and to other family,
- wondering about source of infection (hepatitis B is considered an STI and a diagnosis can raise uncertainty around fidelity within intimate relationships).
In addition, a large proportion of diagnosed women are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and possibly not highly health literate or comfortable within the NSW healthcare system and environment.
Hepatitis NSW has developed a pamphlet that aims to help address the needs of women diagnosed within antenatal screening.
It was developed with valuable input from Caroline Homer, Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney, and Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Western Sydney University.
Hepatitis NSW can provide antenatal-related health workers with an ongoing free supply of Hepatitis B, Mothers and Babies. To order your free supply, email pharvey@hep.org.au