Prevalence, risk factors, and disease knowledge of chronic hepatitis B infection in Vietnamese Americans in California

J Cancer Educ. 2013 Jun;28(2):319-24. doi: 10.1007/s13187-013-0466-0.

Abstract

Our goal is to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and disease knowledge of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) among Vietnamese Americans in California. We also examined treatment eligibility and linkage to care among patients who tested positive for CHB. We enrolled 717 subjects from ten different hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening events in five locations from January 2009 to June 2010 in California. HBV status was determined by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody. Data were collected by a 36-question survey. A total of 99 patients (13.8 %) had positive HBsAg, especially those aged 31-40 years (23.6 %), and 177 (24.7 %) were still susceptible to HBV infection. A significant proportion of those who were HBsAg positive or still susceptible reported a history of HBV vaccination (10 and 20 %, respectively). Following adjustments for age and sex, significant predictors for HBsAg positivity were lack of healthcare coverage (OR=2.4, p=0.004), having a family history of CHB (OR=2.1, p=0.009), and prior occupational exposure (OR=3.0, p=0.007). Of those who tested positive, 13.3 % met criteria for antiviral therapy, but none had been initiated on treatment. HBV prevalence in Vietnamese Americans in California was high (13.8 %), especially in those between 31 and 40 years of age. Patient disease and treatment knowledge was poor, as were follow-up and management of those found to have CHB and/or have indication for antiviral therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Asian*
  • California
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / ethnology*
  • Health Literacy
  • Health Surveys
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / ethnology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / transmission
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Medically Uninsured / ethnology
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Vietnam / ethnology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines