title: Reducing liver cancer disparities: a community-based hepatitis-B prevention program for Asian-American communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several Asian-American groups are at a higher risk of dying of liver diseases attributable to hepatitis-B infection. This culturally diverse community should be well informed of and protected against liver diseases. The present study assesses the knowledge of hepatitis B before and after a hepatitis-B educational program and determines the infection status of an Asian community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine Asian communities of Montgomery County, MD, enrolled in the hepatitis-B prevention program between 2005 and 2006. They attended culturally tailored lectures on prevention, completed self-administered pre- and posttests, and received blood screening for the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 800 Asian Americans participated in the study. Knowledge of prevention was improved after educational delivery. The average infection rate was 4.5%, with Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean groups having higher infection rates. The age group of 36-45 had the highest percentage of carriers (9.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many Asian groups, particularly those of a southeast Asian decent, were subject to a higher probability of hepatitis-B infection. At an increased risk are first-generation Asian immigrants, groups with low immunization rates and those aged 36-45. The findings provide potential directions for focusing preventive interventions on at-risk Asian communities to reduce liver cancer disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, 2371 HHP Building, Valley Drive College Park, MD 20742, USA. edhsu@umd.edu
authors.forename: Chiehwen Ed
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Louis Chih-Hung
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hee-Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Juon
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bawa
authors.forename: Ulder
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tillman
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: MinQi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens