Evaluating the impact of the Hepatitis B Foundation's international storytelling program on empowerment, advocacy, and stigma reduction.

Authors

Michelle Liu, Bright Ansah, Noah M Trudeau, Stella B Dlamini, Anousha Qureshi, Yasmin Ibrahim, Chari Cohen, Catherine Freeland

Published in

BMC public health. Jul 17, 2026. Epub Jul 17, 2026.

Abstract

Hepatitis B remains a major global public health challenge, characterized by low awareness, underdiagnosis, limited access to care, and persistent stigma. Storytelling has emerged as a promising health communication strategy to humanize disease experiences, reduce stigma, and promote advocacy. This study evaluates the Hepatitis B Foundation's International Storytelling Program and its impact on storytellers' empowerment, confidence, stigma experiences, and advocacy engagement.
A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted among adults who recorded personal hepatitis B stories through the program. Quantitative data were collected via an immediate post-recording survey (n = 25) and a follow-up survey 3-6 months later (n = 11), assessing satisfaction, emotional responses, confidence, stigma experiences, and advocacy activities. Survey instruments were developed by the study team and were not previously validated, which may limit measurement reliability and comparability across studies. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Fifteen participants were interviewed qualitatively; these individuals were part of an eligible pool of storytellers spanning 22 countries. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis with double coding to support coding consistency. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of program impacts.
Participants reported high satisfaction and immediate personal benefits, including increased confidence (92%) and perceived preparedness to advocate (96%). At follow-up, participants reported increased comfort discussing hepatitis B (73%) and personal growth (73%), although findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size. Qualitative findings suggest that storytelling supported emotional processing, identity reframing, and increased willingness to disclose, while also contributing to perceived community awareness and engagement.
The International Storytelling Program is a practical, promising approach for empowering individuals affected by hepatitis B and promoting advocacy and stigma reduction globally. However, results should be interpreted cautiously due to sample size and potential selection bias. Storytelling may serve as a complementary strategy to traditional public health approaches.
Not applicable.

PMID:
42469680
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 18 Jul 2026.

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