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 – Available from the CATIE Ordering Centre in English and French

Videos

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.

Webinars

Hepatitis C’s Impact on Canadian Immigrants and Newcomers – CATIE, 2016

Hepatitis C in migrants: An underappreciated group at increased risk – CATIE, 2016

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

Treatment information

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