142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Local Strategies and Perspectives in Implementing a National Multilingual Communications Campaign to Address Hepatitis B in Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities in the United States

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Kate Moraras, MPH , Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
Sherry Chen, MPH, CHES , Education, Training and Communication Team/Division of Viral Hepatitis/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Atlanta, GA
Chari A. Cohen, MPH, DrPH(c) , Department of Public Health Research, Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA
Cynthia Jorgensen, PhD , Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Background/Significance: In the United States, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are disproportionately impacted by hepatitis B, a disease that is silent and largely undiagnosed, but preventable and treatable. Chronic hepatitis B can slowly destroy the liver over many years, increasing the risk of serious diseases. In fact, hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer. As many as 1 in 10 Asian Americans are affected, many of whom are limited English proficient and linguistically isolated. To support community level outreach, the CDC developed a multilingual Know Hepatitis B campaign with messages in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, English and other languages.

Objective/Purpose: We will discuss the various strategies used in conducting culturally and linguistically appropriate hepatitis B education and screening based on the local context. Additionally, this session will describe various local perspectives in utilizing Know Hepatitis B campaign resources and demonstrate how a public-private partnership was created and fostered to reach a traditionally hard-to-reach population.

Methods: This session presents findings from 12 in-depth interviews with the coalitions. Questions assessed local education and communication needs, which informed the implementation of the Know Hepatitis B campaign.

Results/Discussion/Conclusions: Community-based coalitions representing 12 states and the District of Columbia are working to address this urgent public health priority. These coalitions are comprised of inter-sectoral collaborations serving the Asian American and Pacific Islander populations. Through ongoing education and screening events within highly affected communities, these local initiatives are increasing testing, vaccination and linkage to care rates for hepatitis B. Strategies include targeting separate efforts to resonate with the diverse, multilingual populations and creating and maintaining relationships with trusted community leaders.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the API-related health disparities associated with chronic HBV infection in the U.S. Describe national collaborative efforts to address HBV-related health disparities. Identify culturally and linguistically appropriate barriers and strategies faced by local coalitions throughout the U.S.

Keyword(s): Hepatitis B, Asian and Pacific Islanders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have managed multiple programs and projects focusing on health disparities impacting the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities including hepatitis B. I have worked on national policies and activities directly impacting community-based health organizations. My scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing and managing chronic hepatitis B and other chronic diseases disparately impacting the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
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.