Public knowledge and attitudes toward liver diseases and liver cancer in the Brazilian population: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the knowledge of the Brazilian population regarding prevention/screening/diagnosis of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the public knowledge/attitudes toward liver diseases in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 1.995 adults were prospectively interviewed regarding knowledge about cirrhosis/HCC and attitudes toward vaccination and viral hepatitis (VH) testing. FINDINGS: Most of the Brazilian subjects believe that alcohol abuse (63%–87%), NAFLD (29%–53%) and smoking (31%–47%) are the leading causes of cirrhosis/HCC. VH were less often linked to both diseases. Brazilians agreed that NAFLD is a risk factor for cirrhosis, cancer and cardiovascular diseases; 66%, 48% and 40% were submitted to hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B and C testing, particularly those with older age, higher level of education and income. INTERPRETATION: VH was not considered by the majority of the Brazilians as an important cause liver disease, leading a large proportion of those subjects to neglect hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B and C testing. FUNDING: This work was supported by Brazilian Liver Institute.