title: Sociodemographic factors and prejudice toward HIV and hepatitis B/C status in a working-age population: results from a national, cross-sectional study in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In many countries, HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected individuals may face discrimination and mistreatment from coworkers. Effective interventions to reduce workplace discrimination are therefore needed to protect these vulnerable populations. The current study investigated potential associations between sociodemographic factors and prejudice toward HIV and HBV/HCV infected colleagues within a Japanese working population.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online anonymous, nationwide internet survey was administered to a cross-section of approximately 3,000 individuals in Japan. The survey comprised 14 questions focusing on demographics (five items), basic HIV or HBV/HCV knowledge (eight items), and potential prejudice toward HIV or HBV/HCV infected colleagues (one item). The sociodemographic characteristics evaluated were sex, age, educational level, employment status, and individual income; with multiple logistic regression used for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 3,055 individuals were recruited for the HIV related survey and 3,129 for the HBV/HCV related survey. Older age was significantly and positively associated with prejudice toward HIV infected colleagues (p<0.01) and negatively associated with prejudice toward HBV/HCV infected colleagues (p<0.01). Statistically significant associations were not observed between other sociodemographic characteristics and potential prejudice toward HIV and HBV/HCV infected coworkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, this study suggests that age may be associated with prejudice toward HIV and HBV/HCV infected colleagues among the working age population of Japan. As such, policy makers should consider the age of participants when formulating efforts to reduce prejudice toward HIV and HBV/HCV infected workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.affiliation: National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, Australia.
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult