Knowledge about hepatitis B and predictors of hepatitis B vaccination among Vietnamese American college students

Asian American college students are at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Vietnamese American students completed a questionnaire assessing HBV knowledge and attitudes. The authors performed statistical analyses to examine the relationship between HBV knowledge and participant characteristics. They also performed logistic regression to identify predictors of vaccination. Participants' mean age was 22.2 years, and almost 50% were born in the United States.

Only 29.9% knew that Asian Americans are at high risk for HBV. Participants who had undergone screening or vaccination or had a family member with HBV or liver disease had significantly higher levels of HBV knowledge. Less acculturated students were less likely to have received vaccination. Those with higher levels of knowledge were more likely to have received the vaccine.

HBV educational programs targeting young Asian American individuals are needed, with emphasis on reaching less acculturated individuals. Institutions of higher education are important locales to coordinate HBV efforts for young Asian Americans.