Why Hepatitis B Is High in Black Communities

Did you know that the Black community faces a higher risk of hepatitis-related deaths? While the exact number varies annually, the death rate for hepatitis B in our community is nearly three times higher than among whites. For hepatitis C, our community is twice as likely to be infected and face two times higher death rate.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, mostly caused by a virus. It is called the “silent epidemic” because the virus causes damage to the liver over many years without the patient knowing or showing any symptoms for 20 to 30 years. In other words, many people infected with the virus are unaware of their condition. If not discovered and treated in time, it causes liver scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.

Although there are five main strains of viral hepatitis designated with letters A to E, the B and C variants are the two most common forms that cause long-term illness. Low sensitization about the virus has left many people in our community unaware of their risk levels.

The Primary Stains of Hepatitis

World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28. The date coincides with the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the hepatitis B virus. In line with the 2026 theme, “Let’s break it down”, below are the five main strains of hepatitis, their modes of transmission, and severity.

1. Hepatitis A: The route of infection is primarily through contaminated food and water. It mostly leads to a short-term acute infection.
2. Hepatitis B: The main route of transmission is through contact with infected blood, semen, and other bodily fluids. It can lead to chronic, long-term illness. Chronic Hepatitis B is treatable, but not curable.
3. Hepatitis C: It spreads through contact with infected blood, like shared needles or unsafe medical practices. In most cases, it becomes chronic. It is curable with modern medication.
4. Hepatitis D: Acts as a “satellite virus” and will only infect those already infected with hepatitis B. Acute cases usually clear on their own, but chronic cases will require long-term management.
5. Hepatitis E: Spreads primarily through contaminated food or water. The disease caused by this virus is usually acute, lasting less than six months.

Reasons for Higher Hepatitis Infection in Our Community

The World Health Organization report in 2022 shows that hepatitis-related deaths (1.3 million) have surpassed those of HIV (630,000). Likewise, new hepatitis B cases rose to 1.2 million in 2022 and 1 million for hepatitis C, while new HIV infections reduced from 1.5 million to 1.3 million in the same period. Yet, HIV awareness programs and preventive interventions continues to outpace hepatitis.

Lack of awareness continues to be at the center of the spread of hepatitis in our community. A lot of people in our community know their HIV status but not their hepatitis status. In addition to the lack of proper sensitization, several other factors contribute to the disproportionate impact of hepatitis in our community.

Lower Vaccination Rate

Vaccination is the first and most important line of defense against hepatitis B. However, the vaccination rate for adults and children remains low in our community. The CDC recommends the vaccination of all infants, all children and adolescents younger than 19, adults aged 19-59 years and adults aged 60 and older who are at higher risk of hepatitis B.

Available data show that only around 25% to 41% of Black adults who are at risk of HBV have been vaccinated. Historically, the vaccination rates in Black communities have been lower than those in other racial groups. Combined with a lack of proper awareness, Black parents have no incentive to vaccinate their children against hepatitis.

Lower Screening Rate

The CDC recommends that all adults get screened for hepatitis B using a blood test at least once in their lifetime. However, EBH strongly suggests getting tested annually because it is important for us to always know our status on a regular basis.

The CDC also recommend the screening of all pregnant women during pregnancy, infants born to pregnant women with HBV infection, and people with ongoing risk for exposure. Some of the factors that affect the screening rate in our community include:

• Lack of insurance pushes up the screening cost for uninsured people, which can discourage them from getting tested
• The fear of hepatitis stigma can prevent people from getting tested, because some believe it can only be contracted through sexual relationships
• Historic racial discrimination still leads to medical distrust
• Lack of access to testing centers, especially for people living in rural areas
• First-generation immigrants often avoid clinics for fear of deportation

Socioeconomic Factors and Co-infections

Discriminatory housing practices have led to the concentration of the Black community in isolated, underfunded neighborhoods with high rates of poverty. High unemployment combined with poverty often drives recreational drug use. People in this practice easily share needles, which facilitates the spread of blood-borne viruses like hepatitis.

Underprivileged neighborhoods with unsafe exercise spaces also exacerbate the rates of other health conditions like diabetes and HIV. Co-infection can make hepatitis infection more severe, which could be part of the reason for the high death rate from the virus in our community.

Overcoming the burden of hepatitis in our community requires culturally targeted sensitization and outreach. Studies have shown that screening rates improve when familiar and trusted environments like local churches or community centers are converted into venues for testing. These places should also be used to spearhead sensitization.

The National Black Health and the Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO) are using targeted campaigns to fight hepatitis C and B, respectively. They need our collective effort to amplify the message for the good of our community.

For More Reading

1. Anthony, E. (2023, October 12). Low flu vaccination rate among Black adults: Turning the tide. Elevate Black Health. https://www.elevateblackhealth.com/low-flu-vaccination-rate-among-black-adults-turning-the-tide/
2. ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Satellite virus. In Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science. Retrieved July 11, 2026, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/satellite-virus
3. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2018). Viral hepatitis in the African American community (Publication No. 508-final). HIV.gov. https://files.hiv.gov/s3fs-public/Viral-Hepatitis-in-the-African-American-Community_508-final.pdf
4. World Health Organization. (2024, May 21). New report flags major increase in sexually transmitted infections—amidst challenges in HIV and hepatitis. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/21-05-2024-new-report-flags-major-increase-in-sexually-transmitted-infections—amidst-challenges-in-hiv-and-hepatitis
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 25). Hepatitis B. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/about/index.html
6. Kumar, A., & Pandey, R. (2020). Satellite viruses: A review of their structure, replication, and role in disease. Journal of Biosciences, 45(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-020-0000-x
7. Anthony, E. (2023, August 10). Can HIV worsen diabetes? Elevate Black Health. https://www.elevateblackhealth.com/can-hiv-worsen-diabetes/