Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 12, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 828-833

Hepatitis B sero-prevalence and risk behaviors among immigrant men in a population-based household survey in low-income neighborhoods of Northern California (Review) (Open Access)

Levy V.* , Yuan J. , Ruiz J. , Morrow S. , Reardon J. , Facer M. , Molitor F. , Allen B. , Ajufo B.G. , Bell-Sanford G. , McFarland W. , Raymond H.F. , Kellogg T. , Page K.
  • a San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo Medical Center, Edison Clinic, 222 W. 39th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
  • b University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • c California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • d San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo Medical Center, Edison Clinic, 222 W. 39th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
  • e Contra Costa County Department of Public Health, Martinez, CA, United States
  • f California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • g California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • h Alameda County Public Health, Oakland, CA, United States
  • i Alameda County Public Health, Oakland, CA, United States
  • j San Joaquin County Public Health Services, Stockton, CA, United States
  • k San Francisco Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • l San Francisco Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • m San Francisco Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Statistics and Epidemiology Unit, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • n Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States

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. Discussion 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. © 2009 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

California Hepatitis B Hepatitis B vaccine immigrants

Index Keywords

poverty Population Surveillance human epidemiology Asia statistics Hepatitis B virus ethnology Hispanic Americans Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Hispanic Adolescent California male Emigrants and Immigrants isolation and purification Article high risk behavior Risk-Taking adult migration hepatitis B Seroepidemiologic Studies health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78649632134&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-009-9239-6&partnerID=40&md5=6960ebd7f04b674b756eef28f9895567
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-009-9239-6
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English