Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese immigrants to the United States.
BACKGROUND
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%).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Taylor
Vicky M
VM
Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. vtaylor@fhcrc.org
Tu
Shin-Ping
SP
Woodall
Erica
E
Acorda
Elizabeth
E
Chen
Hueifang
H
Choe
John
J
Li
Lin
L
Yasui
Yutaka
Y
Hislop
T Gregory
TG
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014861:Washington
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines