en General پژوهشي Research Article Background: Hepatitis C is among the greatest global health challenges. It is a major risk factor for serious liver diseases. Stigmatization of hepatitis C by healthcare providers is one of the main barriers to its early diagnosis and effective treatment. The aim of this study was to assess hepatitis C knowledge and stigmatization among the students and the staff of Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical epidemiological study was undertaken on 200 students, 100 nurses, 50 physicians, and 50 administrative staff affiliated to Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. A researcher-made hepatitis C knowledge and stigmatization questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected data were entered into the SPSS software (v. 18) and analyzed using the one-sample t-test and Pearson correlation analysis at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: Participants were 278 women (69.5%) and 122 men (30.5%). The mean score of hepatitis C stigmatization was 82.33 &plusmn; 12.81 (out of a total possible score range of 28 - 140). This score was significantly lower than the possible mean score of the stigmatization questionnaire. Most participants obtained a low stigmatization score (63.8%) and a high knowledge score (66%). Hepatitis C stigmatization by participants was inversely correlated with their hepatitis C knowledge (r = -0.2; P < 0.001). Compared to other healthcare providers, physicians obtained the lowest hepatitis C stigmatization score and the highest hepatitis C knowledge score. Conclusion: People with greater knowledge about hepatitis C are less likely to stigmatize patients with hepatitis C. Therefore, educational interventions are needed to improve healthcare providers&rsquo; knowledge about hepatitis C in order to reduce the risk of hepatitis C stigmatization by them. Hepatitis C,Knowledge,Stigmatization,Healthcare Providers 0 0 http://mcj.bums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-69&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Elahe Bijari 10031947532846003586 10031947532846003586 No Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran Masood Ziaee 10031947532846003587 10031947532846003587 Yes Masood Ziaee, Professor of Infectious Disease, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran. Tel: +98-9151613942, Fax: +98-5632433004, E-mail: dr.m.ziaee@gmail.com Gholamreza Sharifzadeh 10031947532846003588 10031947532846003588 No Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran