258895 Misperceptions Regarding Hepatitis B Vaccination Status Among High-Risk Asian and Pacific Islander Immigrants in Philadelphia

Monday, October 29, 2012

John Kim, MPH(c) , Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Kuan-Lung Daniel Chen, MPH, CPH , Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
Karen Ariola, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
C. A. Cohen, MPH, DrPH(c) , Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
Yvonne L. Michael, ScD , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
A.A. Evans, ScD , School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus is a leading cause of primary liver cancer and cirrhosis, especially among Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants. Vaccination of high-risk groups is critical for controlling HBV.

Objective: This study assessed the vaccination status and vaccine perceptions of high-risk APIs in Philadelphia.

Methods: 935 participants were screened at 17 locations throughout Philadelphia. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their country of birth, ethnicity, education, and perception of vaccination status. Participants were screened for infection and protection status. Infected individuals were referred to appropriate health care; vulnerable individuals were referred for vaccination. Fisher's exact test was performed to assess the difference between APIs and non-APIs with respect to their vaccine perception.

Results: Overall, 6.4% (n = 60) were infected with HBV and 52.1% (n = 487) had protective antibodies. 6.5% (n = 56) of participants believed they were vaccinated, but had no protective antibodies. Of these participants, 87.5% (n = 49) were immigrants from high-risk countries; 67.9% (n = 38) were female; 39.3% (n = 22) had less than a college degree. There was no significant difference between APIs and non-APIs with respect to their vaccine perception (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: It is critical that those at highest risk for HBV infection be protected via vaccination. This study indicates that some individuals have misconceptions regarding their vaccination status and self-report of HBV vaccine may be unreliable. This suggests the need for HBV education and screening, particularly among the immigrant population.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Assess vaccination status of high risk APIs in Philadelphia 2. Assess vaccine perceptions of high risk APIs in Philadelphia

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Asian and Pacific Islander

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the principal statistical analysis after compiling the screening data for this study. My primary scientific interests lie in the prevention of hepatitis B among high risk immigrant populations.
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: 3389.0: Translating research to practice: API perspectives