title: Identification and treatment of chronic hepatitis B in Chinese migrants: results of a project offering on-site testing in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migrants born in countries where hepatitis B is endemic are a risk group for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Treatment options have improved, but due to the asymptomatic nature of chronic HBV infection, the majority of patients remain unidentified.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009, a campaign targeting the Chinese community was held in the city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The campaign combined disease awareness activities with free HBV testing at outreach locations. Chronically HBV infected patients were referred to specialist care based on a referral guideline. Before and after the campaign, knowledge of chronic hepatitis B was measured through questionnaires in a convenience sample of the target population (n=285 and n=277).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a period of 3 months, 13 outreach activities took place and 1090 Chinese migrants were tested for HBV. Forty-nine percent had serological signs of a past or recent HBV infection and 8.5% (n=92) were chronically infected. Thirty-eight percent (n=35) of chronically infected patients were referred for evaluation by a specialist and of these, 15 started antiviral treatment within 1 year of follow-up. Before the campaign, 55% answered correctly to 6 or more out of 10 knowledge items. Knowledge was positively associated with educational level. After the campaign, an increase in knowledge was observed in participants with low levels of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese migrants could be reached with an outreach campaign, and on-site testing was well accepted. A high prevalence of chronic HBV infection was found and referral to specialist care and initiation of treatment was successful.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease Control, Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ik.veldhuijzen@rotterdam.nl
authors.forename: Irene K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Veldhuijzen
authors.forename: Reinoud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolter
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rijckborst
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostert
authors.forename: Helene A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Voeten
authors.forename: Yiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: Jurriën G P
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Reijnders
authors.forename: Onno
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: de Zwart
authors.forename: Harry L A
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase