title: Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese American women in Seattle, Washington.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chinese Americans have higher rates of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, resulting in higher incidences of liver cancer, compared with the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a community-based survey of HBV knowledge and preventive practices among Chinese American women in Seattle, Washington, during 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than half (46%) of the respondents knew that HBV could cause liver cancer. Only 35% reported that they had been serologically tested for HBV, and most of those who knew they were susceptible (61%) had not been vaccinated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate low levels of HBV knowledge, screening, and vaccination among Chinese immigrants. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce the burden of HBV infection and liver cancer in this community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-4696, USA. mjt@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J Carey
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuniyuki
authors.forename: Shin-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: T Gregory
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Hislop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001213:Asian; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines