Mentors: Cameron Hay-Rollins, Ph.D., Jenna Buttolph, MPH, and Paul Flaspohler, Ph.D.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) represents a major global health challenge. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral infection that is mainly spread through unsafe medical practices, injection drug use, and exposure to blood contaminated with HCV (WHO). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates over 185 million people are infected with HCV globally (Layden et al., 2014). Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the majority of cases, with around 71 million people infected with HCV (Nankya-Mutyoba et al., 2021). Uganda, a country located in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces a significant HCV burden, with cultural practices and beliefs affecting the transmission of the disease. The prevalence of HCV in Sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 2.1% to 2.8%, with West Africa having the highest prevalence of 2.8% (Layden et al., 2014). However, data on HCV prevalence in Uganda and Africa remains limited, complicating the understanding of the issue. These traditional norms are important to understand when approaching global health, as they are deeply embedded into societal norms. Acknowledging these norms is crucial when approaching global health initiatives with local knowledge, including WHO’s goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030 (Sonderup et al., 2017). WHO’s elimination plan aims to reduce mortality rates caused by end-stage liver cancer and decrease the incidence of new HCV infections (Sonderup et al., 2017). Achieving this goal requires an understanding of how cultural norms in Uganda impact HCV transmission. Cultural competence is crucial to understanding the impacts and how it informs health decisions (Chowdhury et al., 2022). Resulting in the need for culturally competent global health interventions, as cultural beliefs and practices heavily influence health decisions and outcomes.

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