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A research conducted by a Public Health specialist, Mr. Charles Ampong Adjei, said women who test positive for hepatitis B infection suffer psychological and social afflictions, including depression, anxiety and stigmatisation.

The Valley View University lecturer revealed this at a maiden science-based workshop organised by Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana, which took place at the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate in Accra.

According to Mr. Adjei, there is no doubt that hepatitis B infection is negatively affecting social relationships, particularly among discordant couples, adding that marriages of some women in Ghana are threatened while others have been divorced following their testing positive for the hepatitis B Virus.

He attributed this to hepatitis B stigma-promoting messages by unqualified persons on radio, who seem to associate the infection with promiscuity.

Mr. Adjei, therefore, called on health professionals to be interested in disseminating the right hepatitis B related information to the general public.

Speaking at the event, a renowned lecturer at the University of Ghana Legon, Dr. Florence Naab, admonished health workers to screen expectants who visit the clinic for hepatitis B.

This,according to her, will afford them the opportunity to identify those who are positive and administer birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to their newborns within 24 hours after birth.

A Physician Specialist at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adwoa Agyei Nkansah, added a perfect touch to the programme by cautioning the health workers who made it to the workshop not to stigmatise hepatitis B positive individuals when caring for them and also urged the attendees to spread the good message as well.