Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 8, Issue 3, 2006, Pages 193-201

Health care access and sociodemographic factors associated with hepatitis B testing in Vietnamese American men (Article)

Choe J.H.* , Taylor V.M. , Yasui Y. , Burke N. , Nguyen T. , Acorda E. , Jackson J.C.
  • a Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
  • b Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • c Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
  • d Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • e Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • f Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
  • g Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection greatly increases the risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV serologic testing is important for the identification of chronically infected individuals, who may benefit from antiviral treatment and regular monitoring for disease sequelae. Elevated rates of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma among Vietnamese American men can largely be attributed to high rates of chronic HBV infection. We surveyed 509 Vietnamese men aged 18-64 years in Seattle, Washington and examined sociodemographic and health care access factors associated with HBV serology testing. Nearly two-thirds (65%) reported past testing. The following were among those factors associated with HBV testing in bivariate comparisons: older age; short proportion of life in the US; low English fluency; private health insurance; identifying a regular source of medical care; reporting no long waits for medical appointments; and having access to interpreter services. The following were independently associated with HBV testing in multiple logistic regression analysis: older age; college education; low English fluency; private health insurance; having a regular medical provider; and reporting no long waits for medical appointments. Younger and less educated men, and those with difficulty accessing medical care may be at particular risk for never having had HBV testing. Programs to reduce HBV transmission and sequelae should make special effort to target these vulnerable Vietnamese Americans. © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2006.

Author Keywords

Serologic tests Hepatitis B liver cirrhosis Vietnamese Americans Hepatocellular carcinoma

Index Keywords

Vietnam Health Care Surveys mass screening demography multivariate logistic regression analysis Carcinoma, Hepatocellular liver cirrhosis Serologic Tests human health insurance risk assessment middle aged priority journal geographic distribution Logistic Models Washington United States Humans Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American Viet Nam Socioeconomic Factors risk factor population distribution Appointments and Schedules socioeconomics cultural factor serodiagnosis liver cell carcinoma Article disease transmission major clinical study adult Hepatitis B, Chronic Translating infection risk health care access hepatitis B Health Services Accessibility health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33745329903&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-006-9322-1&partnerID=40&md5=71ef0748c8e078ede24d88d8ef2857a1
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-006-9322-1
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 47
Original Language: English