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Published on: February 19, 2019
Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese immigrants to the United States
Vicky M Taylor1, Shin-Ping Tu, Erica Woodall
1Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. vtaylor@fhcrc.org
Introduction:
Chinese immigrants to the United States experience high rates of liver cancer. Chronic carriage of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common underlying cause of liver cancer among Chinese Americans. Our objective was to describe Chinese immigrants' hepatitis B knowledge, testing, and vaccination levels.
Methods:
A community-based, in-person survey of Chinese men and women was conducted in Seattle during 2005. Our study sample included 395 individuals.
Results:
Less than one-half (48%) of our study group indicated they had received a hepatitis B blood test, and about one-third (31%) indicated they had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. The proportions of respondents who knew HBV can be spread during childbirth, during sexual intercourse, and by sharing razors were 70%, 54%, and 55%, respectively. Less than one-quarter of the study group knew that HBV cannot be spread by eating food that was prepared by an infected person (23%) and by sharing eating utensils with an infected person (16%).
Discussion:
Over 50% of our respondents did not recall being tested for HBV. Important knowledge deficits about routes of hepatitis B transmission were identified. Continued efforts should be made to develop and implement hepatitis B educational campaigns for Chinese immigrant communities.
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