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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Nadine L. Chan, MPH1, Victoria M. Taylor, MD, MPH2, J. Carey Jackson, MD, MA, MPH3, Alan Kuniyuki, MS4, and Yutaka Yasui, PhD2. (1) Public Health Sciences Division/Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., MP702, PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, 206-667-7569, nlchan@fhcrc.org, (2) Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., MP702, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, (3) Refugee & Immigrant Health Promotion Program, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359780, Seattle, WA 98104, (4) Public Health Sciences/SCHARP, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 1100 Fairview Ave N., MP-1195, PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024
Southeast Asians have higher liver cancer rates that any other racial/ethnic group in the US. Approximately 80% of liver cancers are etiologically associated with hepatitis B (HBV) infection which is endemic in Southeast Asia. An in-person survey of Cambodian women (n=320) was conducted in Seattle, Washington during 1999. The questionnaire included items about HBV knowledge, beliefs, and practices. Prior to being provided with a description of the disease, only about one-half (56%) of our respondents had heard of HBV infection. Less than one-quarter (23%) of the study group thought that asymptomatic individuals can transmit the disease to others. Most thought that HBV infection can cause liver cancer (54%) and death (72%). However, a minority thought that infection can be lifelong (24%) and incurable (15%). Only 38% reported they had been serologically tested for HBV. Finally, of those who had been tested and thought they were susceptible, two-thirds (67%) had not been vaccinated. Lower levels of education were associated with lower levels of HBV knowledge and serological testing. Our findings suggest that Cambodian immigrants have low levels of HBV knowledge, serologic testing, and vaccination; and demonstrate a need for targeted educational interventions aimed at reducing HBV-related liver cancer mortality among Southeast Asian communities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Hepatitis B
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.