title: Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese immigrants to the United States.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. vtaylor@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Vicky M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Shin-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woodall
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acorda
authors.forename: Hueifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: T Gregory
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Hislop
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines