Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese Canadian women in Vancouver, British Columbia.
BACKGROUND
Liver cancer rates are higher in North American Chinese than non-Asian ethnic/racial groups, largely due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.


METHODS
A community-based survey of Chinese women (n = 147) was completed during 1999 to examine HBV knowledge and practices in Vancouver, British Columbia.


RESULTS
Most women had heard of HBV (85%) but smaller proportions knew about some routes of transmission (e.g., sexual intercourse) and sequelae of infection. Knowledge about HBV was significantly associated with education level (p = 0.005), English fluency (p < 0.001) and household income (p = 0.007). Previous serologic testing for HBV infection was significantly associated with education level (p = 0.04), English fluency (p = 0.01), and level of knowledge about HBV (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to increase knowledge about HBV infection in this community should consider targeting less educated and less acculturated individuals.
Thompson
Matthew J
MJ
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Taylor
Victoria M
VM
Yasui
Yutaka
Y
Hislop
T Gregory
TG
Jackson
J Carey
JC
Kuniyuki
Alan
A
Teh
Chong
C
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines