title: Hepatitis B sero-prevalence and risk behaviors among immigrant men in a population-based household survey in low-income neighborhoods of northern California.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite an effective vaccine, 60,000 new HBV infections were reported in the US in 2004; 95% in adults. We evaluate HBV sero-prevalence, risk behaviors and self-reported vaccination among Latino immigrant, Asian immigrant and US born low income men in five northern California counties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population based, cross sectional survey of HBV sero-prevalence and risk behaviors in men aged 18 to 35 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1,512 men screened, Asian immigrants were most likely to have had prior HBV infection (15.1%) and chronic infection (3.8%) compared to US born (prior 5.1%, chronic 0.6%) and Latino immigrant men (prior 2.0%, chronic 0.3%.) Reported HBV vaccination was lowest for Latino immigrants (12%) compared to Asian immigrants and US born men (35% in both.) Latino immigrants reported less educational attainment, medical insurance coverage and access to a physician in the last six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers should routinely screen Asian immigrants for HBV regardless of their self reported vaccination status. Latino immigrants may comprise an important group of under-vaccinated, at risk persons in California. HBV testing and vaccination of immigrants soon after US arrival should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo Medical Center- Edison Clinic, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA. vlevy@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Facer
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molitor
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Barbara Green
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Ajufo
authors.forename: Geneva
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bell-Sanford
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kellogg
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Page