%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-326X
%I JMIR Publications
%V 9
%N 
%P e66379
%T Perceptions of Stigma Among Patients With Hepatitis B in Germany: Cross-Sectional Survey
%A Zimmermann,Bettina M
%A Willem,Theresa
%A Rost,Michael
%A Matthes,Nina
%A Buyx,Alena
%K infectious diseases
%K infection
%K contaminate
%K septic shock
%K hepatitis B
%K social stigma
%K stigmatize
%K discrimination
%K prejudice
%K social factor
%K social disparity
%K social inequality
%K social inequity
%K Germany
%D 2025
%7 13.6.2025
%9 
%J JMIR Form Res
%G English
%X Background: Many studies find associations between hepatitis B and stigma, but studies from the Western European context are lacking. Based on available studies, we hypothesized that younger age, higher education, male gender, higher privacy needs, and non-German mother tongue were positively associated with perceived hepatitis B–related stigma. Objective: This study aims to describe the prevalence of perceived social stigma among patients with hepatitis B in Germany and to assess what factors are associated with perceptions of hepatitis B–related stigma. Methods: Applying the short version of the Berger stigma scale, we surveyed 195 patients with hepatitis B about their perceptions of hepatitis B–related stigma, privacy needs, and demographic variables through a paper-based questionnaire. Venue-based recruitment of adult patients diagnosed with acute or chronic hepatitis B was implemented at 3 clinical centers in Germany. Patients who could not read German were excluded from the study. Results: From the 195 valid questionnaires, 45.1% (88/195) of participants identified as female, 36.6% (71/195) had a high school diploma, and 56.9% (111/195) reported a mother tongue other than German. The mean (SD) stigma score throughout the sample was 5.52 (6.02; range 0-24) and the median was 3.50 (IQR=9.75). Regression analysis revealed that non-German mother tongue, individual data privacy needs, and participants’ secrecy regarding their hepatitis B diagnosis independently predicted perceived hepatitis B-related stigma. More precisely, the higher the data privacy need and the more secret the hepatitis B diagnosis, the higher the perceived stigma, and perceived stigma was higher for patients with a non-German mother tongue. Age, gender, and education were no predictors of perceived stigma. Conclusions: The surveyed patients with hepatitis B in Germany reported lower levels of hepatitis B–related stigma than found in other studies conducted in Asian countries. The association with non-German mother tongue indicates an important cultural and social component in the perception of stigma. Community-based interventions and the sensibilization of health care professionals might help overcome perceptions of stigma among hepatitis B–affected populations. 
%R 10.2196/66379
%U https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e66379
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/66379