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Hepatitis infections, especially hepatitis B and C can remain asymptomatic for years
Hepatitis infections, especially hepatitis B and C can remain asymptomatic for years
In the landscape of global health, viral hepatitis continues to be a big challenge, with over a million deaths being attributed to Hepatitis B and C annually. The silent nature of these infections allows them to go undetected for years, especially among working women, an underserved and frequently overlooked group in health matters. As we observe World Hepatitis Day, it is vital to highlight the unique barriers working women face in the early detection and care of hepatitis. Dr Vikram Vora, Medical Director, International SOS shares all you need to know:
Hepatitis infections, especially hepatitis B and C can remain asymptomatic for years. Without targeted screening, many individuals especially women juggling multiple roles, who are unable to focus on their own health and wellbeing, do not realize that they are infected until the disease has progressed and caused serious liver damage, including fibrosis, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This culturally ingrained self-neglect means symptoms, when they appear, may be brushed aside or misattributed to stress or hormonal changes. In working women, this can be even more pronounced due to the complex interplay of occupational, social, and biological factors.
Working women often operate under significant time pressure, regardless of whether they work in formal or informal sectors. Between managing household responsibilities and professional demands, preventive health checkups end up being deprioritized. Although corporate wellness programs have started to focus on non-communicable diseases (like diabetes and hypertension), rarely do they include hepatitis screening.
Further, clinics often operate during standard working hours, and relatively few employers offer on-site testing or flexible leave for preventive health services. This creates a vicious cycle of low awareness, low testing and consequently, late diagnosis.
Hepatitis is also compounded by social stigma, largely due to its association with sexual transmission or drug use. Even educated women may feel hesitant to seek testing or disclose their status for fear of being misunderstood, judged, or discriminated against in the workplace.
Despite the availability of effective hepatitis B vaccines and curative treatments for hepatitis C, awareness remains low. Many women are unaware of their vaccination status or the need for screening, especially if they were born before hepatitis B vaccination was included in national immunization programs.
Additionally, hepatitis education is often absent from workplace wellness communications. Without targeted information campaigns, the average working woman remains unaware of the long-term risks of chronic hepatitis or the ease of getting screened with a simple blood test.
To bridge this gap, we need comprehensive and gender-sensitive workplace health and wellness policies that provide the following:
Awareness – constant availability of health information from credible and medically validated sources.
Screening and Education – ensuring workplace testing or the provision of access to external screening.
Destigmatization – an open culture where discussions around health conditions are free and frank without prejudice
Engagement – using digital enablement and fostering a sense of community.
Hepatitis is silent but should not be invisible. By recognizing the barriers working women face in detection and treatment and taking targeted steps to overcome them, we can protect this vital segment of the workforce from a preventable, treatable, and often curable disease.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
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