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Event Series: Hepatitis C Track

Social Support Limitations and Hepatitis C Diagnosis Among High-Risk Adults in the U.S.: An Analysis of NHANES 2017–March 2020 Pre-Pandemic Data

March 19 @ 10:45 am12:15 pm EDT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a serious public health concern in the U.S., especially among high-risk groups. While social support is thought to influence health outcomes, its role in HCV diagnosis is less clear. Using pre-pandemic NHANES data (2017–March 2020), this study explored whether limitations in social support measured by self-reported access to routine care and inability to obtain needed medical care were associated with HCV screening outcomes among high-risk adults. Weighted logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, and depression symptoms found no significant association between social support limitations and HCV positivity. Findings highlight the need for more nuanced and multidimensional measures of social support in research on HCV risk. Future studies should incorporate longitudinal designs and explore other pathways influencing HCV outcomes.

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