Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 62-73

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of hepatitis B screening and vaccination and liver cancer risks among Vietnamese Americans (Article)

Ma G.X.* , Shive S.E. , Fang C.Y. , Feng Z. , Parameswaran L. , Pham A. , Khanh C.
  • a Department of Public Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, United States, Center for Asian Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, United States, 304A Vivacqua Hall, 1700 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, United States
  • b Research Faculty, Center for Asian Health at Temple, United States
  • c Division of Population Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cheltenham, PA, United States
  • d Biostatistics Program, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
  • e Center for Asian Health at Temple, United States
  • f Center for Asian Health at Temple, United States
  • g Department of Internal Medicine, Vietnamese Clinic, Philadelphia, United States

Abstract

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem among Asian Americans. Vietnamese Americans are disproportionately affected by liver cancer compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Vietnamese males have the highest incidence of liver cancer of any racial group; incidence of liver cancer among Vietnamese males is 11 times higher than among White males. Nearly 80% of liver cancer is attributed to HBV. This study measured knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HBV screening and vaccination. The study was conducted among 256 Vietnamese Americans in the greater Philadelphia and New Jersey area, with a large number of underserved, recent immigrants with low socioeconomic status and limited English proficiency. Participants were recruited from Vietnamese community-based organizations. Overall, 46.3% of the sample had heard of HBV or knew about the availability of screening (32.6%) or vaccination (35.5%) while 7.5% were ever screened and 6.3% had been vaccinated. Community-based, culturally appropriate interventions for Vietnamese Americans and health care providers should increase screening and vaccination rates.

Author Keywords

Liver cancer Hepatitis B Asian Americans Vietnamese Americans

Index Keywords

New Jersey liver tumor Liver Neoplasms Vietnam mass screening human Health Behavior middle aged Aged ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies United States cross-sectional study Humans Philadelphia virology Asian Americans male Asian American female Viet Nam questionnaire Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article Questionnaires Hepatitis B Vaccines adult Utilization Review hepatitis B vaccine hepatitis B attitude to health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33947512072&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2007.0013&partnerID=40&md5=10cd09d12f59359e450c0c8f59e2ac64
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2007.0013
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 54
Original Language: English