219503 Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B screening and vaccination among Asian Americans

Monday, November 8, 2010

Carol Strong , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Sunmin Lee, ScD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Tonghan Chung , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Lu Chen , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Hien Tran , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Hee-Soon Juon, PhD , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Background: Asian Americans account for the majority of chronic hepatitis B infection in the United States, therefore, have the highest incidence and mortality rate of liver cancer among all ethnic groups. Screening and vaccination for hepatitis B are critical for this population.

Purpose: To identify the prevalence of hepatitis B screening and vaccination among Asian Americans, and factors associated with these behaviors.

Methods: A total of 277 Korean and Chinese Americans aged 18 and above were recruited from community-based organizations in Maryland for a health education intervention and completed a self-administered survey in 2009-2010. Prevalence of hepatitis B screening and vaccination were examined and used as the main outcomes for logistic regression.

Results: There were 131 participants (47%) reported they had hepatitis B screening and 107 participants (39%) received vaccinations. Among people who had screening, 13% were infected, 80% were not infected and 7% did not know their status. Only 50% of those who received vaccinations completed three shots. In the regression analysis, hepatitis B knowledge (OR=1.23, 95%CI:1.07-1.42), physician recommendation (OR=2.77, 95%CI:1.02-7.54) and family or friends recommendation (OR=6.91, 95%CI:2.84-16.8) were significantly associated with hepatitis B screening. For hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B knowledge (OR=1.29, 95%CI:1.11-1.50) and physician recommendation (OR=3.00, 95%CI:1.13-7.94) were significantly associated.

Conclusions: The results suggest that hepatitis B testing and vaccination prevalence are low among Asian Americans, given that 13% were already infected with hepatitis B. We need to develop effective culturally tailored education program to increase knowledge of hepatitis B infection which lead to liver cancer prevention.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Describe the prevalence of hepatitis B screening and vaccination behavior for Korean and Chinese Americans 2. Identify key factors that are associated with hepatitis b screening and vaccination behavior for Korean and Chinese Americans

Keywords: Asian Americans, Hepatitis B

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am a public health PhD student and have been working on hepatitis B education for a year.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3362.0: Chronic Disease Prevention and Control among Asian & Pacific Islanders