title: Hepatitis B testing among Vietnamese American men.
abstract: Vietnamese American men are over 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer than their white counterparts. This health disparity is attributable to high rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Our study objective was to examine factors associated with HBV testing among Vietnamese men. A population-based survey was conducted in Seattle. The questionnaire content was guided by an earlier qualitative study and the Health Behavior Framework. The survey was completed by 345 men (response rate: 80%). About one-third (34%) of the respondents reported they had not been tested for HBV. The following factors were associated (P < 0.01) with previous testing in bivariate comparisons: having a regular source of care and regular provider; knowing that HBV can be spread during childbirth; believing HBV can cause liver cancer; and doctor(s) had recommended testing as well as had asked doctor(s) for testing. Three variables were independently associated with HBV testing in a logistic regression model: regular source of care (OR = 4.5; 95% CI = 2.6-7.9), physician recommendation (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.3-4.0), and knowing HBV can be spread during childbirth (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2-3.9). Low levels of HBV testing remain a public health problem in some Vietnamese American sub-groups. Health education about HBV transmission may stimulate patients to seek testing. Intervention programs should specifically target Vietnamese men without a regular source of health care and physicians who serve Vietnamese communities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. vtaylor@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Tung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acorda
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: J Carey
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology