Hepatitis B testing and vaccination in Vietnamese Americans: Are doctors talking about it? Are we reaching English-speaking adults?

Hepatitis B accounts for 80% of liver cancer cases among Asian Americans. Objectives: Report the prevalence of hepatitis B screening, vaccination, and either screening or vaccination among a population-based sample of Vietnamese Americans; and describe relationships between those outcomes with language, health access, physician discussion, and knowledge. Methods: We conducted secondary data analysis using the 2006 REACH-2010 Risk Factor Survey. Administered in Vietnamese and English, the telephone survey included randomly selected Vietnamese American adults (>18 years) from Santa Clara County, California telephone directories. Our three outcome variables were receipt of hepatitis B test, vaccine, and either test or vaccine. Results: The study sample included 797 adults (screener completion rate, 62%; response rate, 32%), with 59% interviewing in Vietnamese. Fifty-eight percent had received a hepatitis B test, 36% a hepatitis B vaccine, and 73% either a hepatitis B test or vaccine. In multivariate regression, Vietnamese language of interview (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.2-4.2), having a physician who discussed hepatitis B (OR: 4.1, 95%CI: 2.2-7.5), and knowing hepatitis B increased liver cancer risk (OR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.3-3.4) were significantly associated with hepatitis B testing. These three factors were also significantly associated with receipt of either hepatitis B test or vaccine. For hepatitis B vaccination, significant factors included physician discussion of hepatitis B (OR: 2.9, 95%CI: 1.9-4.3) and younger age (OR: 5.3, 95%CI: 1.8-15.6 for ages 18-25 and OR: 4.27, 95%CI: 1.9-9.8 for ages 26-39). Conclusion: Hepatitis B prevention interventions should target English-speaking Vietnamese adults, include physician-patient discussions, and provide education about liver disease.