title: Hepatitis B virus infection and immunizations among Asian American college students: infection, exposure, and immunity rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, exposure, and immunity among Asian American college students as a basis for evaluating HBV screening and vaccination policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-identified Asian American college students aged 18 years or older were examined. Serological tests of HBV surface antigens, antibodies to HBV core antigens (anti-HBc), and antibodies to HBV surface antigens (anti-HBs) were used to determine HBV infection and immunization prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among US-born students (n = 66), none was infected with HBV, 68% (n = 45) had immunity from vaccination, and 1 student had evidence of past exposure to HBV. Among foreign-born students (n = 142), 4% (n = 5) had evidence of chronic HBV infection, 62% (n = 88) had immunity from vaccination, and 19% (n = 27) had results indicating past exposure to HBV. Asian American college students showed very little knowledge of HBV vaccination; 43% reported that they had received vaccination, whereas 50% did not know whether they had received it or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of current and past HBV infection among foreign-born Asian American college students is significantly higher (p < .01), than US-born students. The lack of awareness of their HBV-infected status points out the importance of routine HBV screening of high-risk populations such as Asian students.
authors: College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3393, USA. haeok.lee@umb.edu
authors: Haeok
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kiang
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Watanabe
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Halon
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Shi
authors: Daniel R
authors: DR
authors: Church
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines