Journal of Community Health
Volume 33, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 199-205

Public health model for prevention of liver cancer among Asian Americans (Article)

Juon H.-S.* , Strong C. , Oh T.H. , Castillo T. , Tsai G. , Oh L.D.H.
  • a Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, 704, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
  • b Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, 704, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
  • c Hepatitis B Initiative-DC, P.O. Box 53447, Washington, DC 20009-3447, United States
  • d Hepatitis B Initiative-DC, P.O. Box 53447, Washington, DC 20009-3447, United States
  • e Hepatitis B Initiative-DC, P.O. Box 53447, Washington, DC 20009-3447, United States
  • f Hepatitis B Initiative-DC, P.O. Box 53447, Washington, DC 20009-3447, United States

Abstract

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) account for over half of the 1.3 million chronic hepatitis B cases and for over half of the deaths resulting from chronic hepatitis B infection in United States. There are very few studies published about hepatitis B virus (HBV) data in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. In 2003, the Hepatitis B Initiative-DC (HBI-DC) worked closely with a large Korean church, located in Vienna, Virginia. Their partnership included a pilot-test of a faith-based HBV program, which educates, screens and vaccinates for the HBV. This pilot program was later expanded to include a total of nine Korean and Chinese American churches in this region, plus a Pastor's Conference targeting Asian American pastors from around the United States. During 2003-2006, a total of 1,775 persons were tested for HBV infection through the HBI-DC program. Of all the participants, 2% (n = 35) were tested HBV positive (HbsAg+, HbsAb-), 37% (n = 651) were HBV negative but protected (HbsAg-, HbsAb+), and 61% (n = 1089) were unprotected (HbsAg-, HbsAb-). Most of these unprotected individuals (n = 924) received the first vaccination. The proportion of the second vaccination was 88.8% (n = 824). About 79% completed 3-shot vaccine series. Our study contributes to the literature by providing an overview of the hepatitis B unprotected rate among Asian American adults. It indicates that culturally integrated liver cancer prevention program will reduce cancer health disparities in high risk immigrant populations. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

faith-based Hepatitis B virus screening Vaccination Health education Asian Americans

Index Keywords

Needs Assessment Liver Neoplasms immigrant human middle aged cancer prevention Aged religion United States health program Humans Adolescent model Asian Americans male Asian American female high risk population Public Health Practice cultural factor Article liver cancer Hepatitis B Vaccines adult Hepatitis B, Chronic health education major clinical study hepatitis B surface antigen vaccination hepatitis B Pilot Projects Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-44649184075&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-008-9091-y&partnerID=40&md5=6c39ebaed51154543cbe40529bdad234
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-008-9091-y
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English