Mongrel Mob members have opened up to Otago University researchers for the good of their health.
A statement released by the university today says that studying the liver health of a high-risk, hard-to-reach gang population certainly came with challenges and a few surprises.
The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, assessed the hepatitis prevalence, knowledge, and liver health risk factors of 52 Mongrel Mob members, affiliates and extended family.
Associate Professor Michael Schultz, Head of Otago University's Department of Medicine, says New Zealand has a high percentage of undiagnosed hepatitis B and C cases.
The Mongrel Mob is the largest gang in New Zealand and, thanks to known risk factors for hepatitis C, such as a high incarceration rate, common intravenous drug use, and uncertified tattooing, their members and relatives are considered to be a high-risk hepatitis C group.
"Knowledge of hepatitis and how it is transmitted are essential for disease prevention and management," he says.
Dr Schultz says the researchers were provided with a unique opportunity to study the Mongrel Mob, a group considered to be hard-to-reach and marginalised, generating the first data of this kind.
While no cases of hepatitis C were found, two carriers of hepatitis B were identified.
The research concludes that of most concern was the "marginal" knowledge the study participants had about viral hepatitis.
On average, the participants scored 43.3 per cent on a knowledge questionnaire, compared to 59.4 per cent in the general population.
The researchers found a significant link between lack of knowledge and risky infection behaviours among the group.
"Education is key to stopping hepatitis C from spreading. This study demonstrates the need for educational screening programmes to aid early detection, prevention and treatment," Dr Schultz says.
The researchers also identified several areas of concern about the general liver health of the group: participants displayed three times higher rates of liver inflammation and damage compared to the general population.
One-fifth also had significant to severe levels of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis; exceptionally high levels of alcohol consumption, in both frequency and quantity, were identified.
The group was found to have more than two times higher obesity rates than the general population.
"Given that about 35 per cent of the group visited their GP less than once every five years, they are highly concerning findings," Dr Schultz says.
While surprised by the willingness of the participants to be involved in the study, Dr Schultz believed having a person on the team who came from a gang family helped break the ice.
"While the planning wasn’t all that easy, once there, everybody was really open, interested, and asked questions. We felt welcome, not threatened at all. They were very nice and co-operative and really interested, despite what we think we know about the Mongrel Mob.
"I see this as one of the most interesting and challenging projects I have done. It certainly took me out of my comfort zone."
SHARE ME