Grace X. Ma, PhD¹, Forum Mankodi, MD, MPH (c)², Yin Tan, MD, MPH³, Steve Shive, PhD, MPH⁴, Jennifer M. Zavislak, MPH (c)⁵, Ping Wang, MD, PhD (c)², and Rosita L. Edwards, MA⁶. (1) Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Director of Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, 215-204-5108, grace.ma@temple.edu, (2) Research Assistant, Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, (3) Project Manager and Research Associate, Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, (4) Research Associate of Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, East Stroudsburg University, 200 Prospect St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999, (5) Department of Public Health, East Stroudsburg University, 200 Prospect St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999, (6) Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Epidemiological studies have proven that persons with chronic Hepatitis B have 200 times higher risk of developing liver cancer than those not infected (Jenkins et al., 2000). Hepatitis B infection is one of most serious health problems in the fast growing Asian American population. Hepatitis B infects more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. each year. Among all ethnic groups, Chinese Americans (11%) have the highest rates of Hepatitis B infection. The primary aims of this study are to measure knowledge of, and attitudes and practice toward Hepatitis B and its screening, and to identify factors and barriers that impact Hepatitis B screening and vaccine behavior among Chinese Americans in Philadelphia and New York City. A cross-sectional self-administered or face-to-face interview survey was conducted among 150 Chinese Americans. Participants were recruited from five Chinese community-based organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area and New York City. Findings of the study will be presented at the conference including knowledge and awareness level, and attitudes and practice toward general health prevention, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B screening and vaccine, and socioeconomic and acculturation variables that predict Hepatitis B screening and vaccine behavior. These results will be used to design a community-based, culturally appropriate intervention for Chinese Americans to increase the screening/vaccine rates in this underserved population.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, the audience will be able to describe knowledge and awareness level, attitudes and practice toward general health prevention, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B screening and vaccine, and socioeconomic and acculturation variables that predict Hepatitis B screening and vaccine behavior among Chinese Americans; and identify factors and barriers that impact the Hepatitis B screening behavior among Chinese Americans.

Keywords: Asian Americans, 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.