Hepatitis C and Immigrants and Newcomers
This page highlights hepatitis C resources for service providers working with immigrants and newcomers from countries where higher rates of hepatitis C are common.
Hepatitis C is important for immigrants and newcomers in Canada because it is estimated that 35% of hepatitis C antibody–positive cases in Canada are among people born outside of the country.
As hepatitis C is a slow-progressing disease that often does not show symptoms and is not consistently screened for, it is important for service providers to understand how it uniquely affects this priority population, and encourage clients to get tested and know their status.
Hepatitis C Information
Reports and publications
Addressing hepatitis C in the foreign-born population: A key to hepatitis C virus elimination in Canada – Canadian Liver Journal, July 2018
Hepatitis C in Canadian immigrants and newcomers: Why are hepatitis C rates higher in these populations? – Prevention in Focus (CATIE), 2017
Priority directions to address hepatitis C amongst immigrants and newcomers to Canada from high-prevalence countries from the full report Windows of opportunity: Integrated hepatitis C programming approaches for priority populations – CATIE, 2015.
Questions and Answers: Inclusive practice in the prevention of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections among ethnocultural minorities – Public Health Agency of Canada
Screening for hepatitis C infection: evidence review for newly arriving immigrants and refugees – Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health
CATIE’s Hepatitis C Ethnocultural Outreach, Education and Social Marketing Program – Programming Connection case study
Hepatitis C Infographic – CATIE
Videos
Animated hepatitis C video series for immigrants and newcomers
This animated video series provides key messages about hepatitis C to help raise awareness among several affected immigrant communities in Canada. In order to make the information accessible, the videos are available in four different languages: Mandarin, Punjabi, Filipino and Urdu. The series contains three videos covering the following foundational topics:
- Routes of hepatitis C transmission common among immigrants and newcomers to Canada
- Hepatitis C testing and treatment
- Differences between hepatitis A, B and C
Mandarin Punjabi FILIPINO URDU
CATIE Kitchen: Talking About Hepatitis C
CATIE’s new video campaign, CATIE Kitchen: Talking About Hepatitis C, is for hepatitis C service providers and members of Ontario’s four largest immigrant communities from countries with high prevalence of hepatitis C. The videos raise awareness about hepatitis C prevalence and risk, and the need for testing and linkage to treatment and care.
Featuring members of Chinese, Filipino, Punjabi and Pakistani communities in Canada, the campaign includes one English-language video and videos in each community’s language, increasing awareness of common hepatitis C transmission routes in immigrant communities.
Hepatitis C in Canadian Immigrants and Newcomers: A hidden population
This video created for frontline workers and service providers outlines key information on hepatitis C transmission, testing and treatment for immigrants and newcomers from countries where hepatitis C is common.
From diagnosis to cure: One newcomer’s journey with hepatitis C
This video tells the story of a newcomer, Shujaat, who came to Canada from Pakistan and discovered he had hepatitis C. Through Shujaat’s personal experience of accessing treatment and getting cured (in Urdu with English subtitles), viewers will be encouraged to self-advocate and take charge of their health, especially if they have hepatitis C.
Multilingual client resources
Pamphlet
Hepatitis C Information for Immigrants and Newcomers – Available in Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu and Punjabi with English or French versions
Online resources
hepcinfo.ca – Basic hepatitis C information available in English, French, Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu and Vietnamese
In-language information for patients including frequently asked questions, and diagnostic testing available in Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Tagalog – British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 2015
Key message videos
You can have it and not know it – Available in English, Punjabi, Mandarin, Urdu, Tagalog, Hindi, Spanish, and Tamil
Treatment can cure Hep C – Available in English, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Spanish, Punjabi, Mandarin, and Tagalog
Other CATIE hepatitis C resources
CATIE’s hepatitis C information
Hepatitis C: An In-Depth Guide – Comprehensive information on all aspects of hepatitis C prevention, transmission, and healthy living
Hepatitis C Updates – CATIE`s electronic newsletter highlighting key hepatitis C prevention, treatment and epidemiology information
Find services
hcv411.ca/ – Hepatitis C services in Canada