Low knowledge and high infection rates of hepatitis in Vietnamese men in Sydney.
OBJECTIVE
To describe hepatitis B and C knowledge and self-reported infection and risk behaviour in a group of Vietnamese men living in inner-urban Sydney, in order to assist with future program planning.


METHODS
Data were collected through telephone interviews conducted in Vietnamese using a structured questionnaire from 499 of 761 eligible men contacted, giving a response rate of 66%. The data were weighted to be consistent with the age distribution of Vietnamese men in the area. The findings were compared with a published national telephone study.


RESULTS
Low knowledge levels of hepatitis B and C were found when compared with data from a published national telephone study. The factors associated with higher mean knowledge scores for hepatitis B were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever having been tested for HIV (P < 0.001) and knowing someone with HIV (P < 0.0001). For hepatitis C, the factors were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever injecting drugs (P < 0.05) and being vaccinated for hepatitis B (P < 0.001). Knowledge regarding hepatitis B was particularly poor. High rates of self-reported hepatitis B infection were noted. Of the participants, 7.2% were aware that they had ever been infected with hepatitis B, more than 10 times the rate in the national telephone study.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower levels of hepatitis B knowledge have been identified in a community with higher numbers of people living with chronic hepatitis B. Targeted community-wide awareness-raising campaigns and health care worker education is required to improve knowledge of hepatitis B and rates of screening in the Australian Vietnamese community.
O'Connor
Catherine C
CC
Sexual Health Service, Community Health Facility, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. oconnorc@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Shaw
Miranda
M
Wen
Li M
LM
Quine
Susan
S
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology