Hepatitis B testing and access to care among racial and ethnic minorities in selected communities across the United States, 2009-2010.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is widely prevalent among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States; however, few data have been available regarding HBV testing and referral to care for these populations. Using survey data collected in 2009-2010 from the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) across the U.S., we assessed rates and determinants of hepatitis B testing and access to care in 28 minority communities in the U.S. Of 53,896 respondents, 21,129 (39.2%) reported having been tested for hepatitis B. Of the 1,235 who reported testing positive, 411 (33.3%) reported currently receiving specialty care. After controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the likelihood of having been tested for hepatitis B and receiving care if infected was higher among males, non-English speaking persons, and those having health insurance compared to their counterparts. Compared to college graduates, respondents without a college education were less likely to get tested for hepatitis B.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that more than half of racial/ethnic minority persons in these communities had not been tested for hepatitis B, and only about one-half of those who tested positive had ever received treatment. More state and federal efforts are needed to screen racial/ethnic minorities, especially foreign-born persons, for HBV and link those with infection to care.
Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Atlanta, GA, USA.
Dale J
DJ
Hu
Jian
J
Xing
Rania A
RA
Tohme
Youlian
Y
Liao
Henry
H
Pollack
John W
JW
Ward
Scott D
SD
Holmberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult