Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Me

Blood borne viruses (BBV) are infectious agents, the most common being hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

These viruses can be spread through activities such as unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles or exposure to contaminated blood products.

They pose significant health risks as they can lead to chronic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or liver cancer in the case of hepatitis B and C, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the case of HIV if they are not diagnosed.

Preventive measures are vital in reducing the transmission of these viruses and routine testing essential for detection.

BBV are more common than some people think and both our experience in sexual health and research findings, led us to develop the BBV and Me in South Wales valleys.

We had observed that there was a general view by the community and by healthcare professionals, that heterosexual people were not at risk of infections with blood-borne

Aims

The project aim was to learn more about public knowledge and attitudes to bloodborne viruses in semi-rural communities in Wales and learn about the understanding and concerns of healthcare professionals towards testing for blood borne viruses in their scope of practice and the barriers that they face to implement BBV testing.

The BBV and Me project

We held dedicated listening-exercises with people living in semi-rural areas and with healthcare professionals over the course of 4 months in 2024, to discuss blood borne viruses and explore the views of people taking part.

In these sessions, common themes arose and we were able to identify these and explore how they contribute towards a lack of awareness of BBV and BBV testing.

In collaboration with a professional animation company we were able to produce two bilingual novel animations about BBV, one designed for members of the public and one for healthcare professionals.

Through our short animations, we aim to raise awareness, break down myths, and encourage everyone to get tested. Testing is quick, easy, and could save your life.

Our animations provide accessible information to the public and support healthcare professionals in encouraging routine testing and addressing common misconceptions.

By increasing awareness and normalising testing, we can diagnose BBV early, prevent long-term complications and improve patient outcomes. Explore our resources and be part of the effort to detect and manage BBVs early.

This project was a collaboration between Cardiff University and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University health board and was funded by a grant from Gilead.

Project team