Women, Hepatitis C, and sexuality: A critical feminist exploration

Judy Armishaw
Coordinator, Lismore Family Planning Service, Lismore NSW

Kierrynn Davis
School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW

PP: 194 - 203

Abstract

Sexuality is a neglected subject in nursing with nurses often exhibiting erotophobia. Furthermore Hepatitis C is a stigmatised disease and people living with HCV frequently experience stigmatisation by health professionals, including nurses.

Erotophobia and HCV related stigmatisation is detrimental to the formation of an open and trusting nurse-client relationship and is potentially injurious to the health and well being of people living with HCV who come into contact with nurses in the course of their illness. This research explored the question of whether living with HCV affected the sexuality of HCV positive women and if so in what ways?

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Keywords

Hepatitis C; sexuality; critical feminist research


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