Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 2007 Aug;99(8):900–907.

Reducing liver cancer disparities: a community-based hepatitis-B prevention program for Asian-American communities.

Chiehwen Ed Hsu 1, Louis Chih-Hung Liu 1, Hee-Soon Juon 1, Yu-Wen Chiu 1, Julie Bawa 1, Ulder Tillman 1, Mark Li 1, Jerry Miller 1, MinQi Wang 1
PMCID: PMC2574302  PMID: 17722668

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Several Asian-American groups are at a higher risk of dying of liver diseases attributable to hepatitis-B infection. This culturally diverse community should be well informed of and protected against liver diseases. The present study assesses the knowledge of hepatitis B before and after a hepatitis-B educational program and determines the infection status of an Asian community. METHODS: Nine Asian communities of Montgomery County, MD, enrolled in the hepatitis-B prevention program between 2005 and 2006. They attended culturally tailored lectures on prevention, completed self-administered pre- and posttests, and received blood screening for the disease. RESULTS: More than 800 Asian Americans participated in the study. Knowledge of prevention was improved after educational delivery. The average infection rate was 4.5%, with Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean groups having higher infection rates. The age group of 36-45 had the highest percentage of carriers (9.1%). CONCLUSION: Many Asian groups, particularly those of a southeast Asian decent, were subject to a higher probability of hepatitis-B infection. At an increased risk are first-generation Asian immigrants, groups with low immunization rates and those aged 36-45. The findings provide potential directions for focusing preventive interventions on at-risk Asian communities to reduce liver cancer disparities.

Full text

PDF
904

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burke Nancy J., Jackson J. Carey, Thai Hue Chan, Stackhouse Frank, Nguyen Tung, Chen Anthony, Taylor Victoria M. 'Honoring tradition, accepting new ways': development of a hepatitis B control intervention for Vietnamese immigrants. Ethn Health. 2004 May;9(2):153–169. doi: 10.1080/1355785042000222860. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chen Moon S., Jr Cancer health disparities among Asian Americans: what we do and what we need to do. Cancer. 2005 Dec 15;104(12 Suppl):2895–2902. doi: 10.1002/cncr.21501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Choe John H., Taylor Victoria M., Yasui Yutaka, Burke Nancy, Nguyen Tung, Acorda Elizabeth, Jackson J. Carey. Health care access and sociodemographic factors associated with hepatitis B testing in Vietnamese American men. J Immigr Minor Health. 2006 Jul;8(3):193–201. doi: 10.1007/s10903-006-9322-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Edmunds W. J., Medley G. F., Nokes D. J., Hall A. J., Whittle H. C. The influence of age on the development of the hepatitis B carrier state. Proc Biol Sci. 1993 Aug 23;253(1337):197–201. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1993.0102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Honda Keiko, Neugut Alfred I. Associations between perceived cancer risk and established risk factors in a national community sample. Cancer Detect Prev. 2004;28(1):1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.cdp.2003.12.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hsu Chiehwen Ed, Mas Francisco Soto, Hickey Jessica M., Miller Jerry A., Lai Dejian. Surveillance of the colorectal cancer disparities among demographic subgroups: a spatial analysis. South Med J. 2006 Sep;99(9):949–956. doi: 10.1097/01.smj.0000224755.73679.67. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hsu Chiehwen Ed, Mas Francisco Soto, Jacobson Holly E., Harris Ann Marie, Hunt Victoria I., Nkhoma Ella T. Public health preparedness of health providers: meeting the needs of diverse, rural communities. J Natl Med Assoc. 2006 Nov;98(11):1784–1791. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hsu Chiehwen Ed, Mas Francisco Soto, Miller Jerry A., Nkhoma Ella T. A spatial-temporal approach to surveillance of prostate cancer disparities in population subgroups. J Natl Med Assoc. 2007 Jan;99(1):72-80, 85-7. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. McGarvey Elizabeth L., Clavet Gail J., Johnson James B., 2nd, Butler Audrey, Cook Kim Oanh, Pennino Bonita. Cancer screening practices and attitudes: comparison of low-income women in three ethnic groups. Ethn Health. 2003 Feb;8(1):71–82. doi: 10.1080/13557850303556. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McPhee Stephen J., Nguyen Thoa, Euler Gary L., Mock Jeremiah, Wong Ching, Lam Tram, Nguyen Walter, Nguyen Sang, Huynh Ha Martin Quach, Do Son T. Successful promotion of hepatitis B vaccinations among Vietnamese-American children ages 3 to 18: results of a controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2003 Jun;111(6 Pt 1):1278–1288. doi: 10.1542/peds.111.6.1278. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Taylor Vicky M., Tu Shin-Ping, Woodall Erica, Acorda Elizabeth, Chen Hueifang, Choe John, Li Lin, Yasui Yutaka, Hislop T. Gregory. Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Chinese immigrants to the United States. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2006 Apr-Jun;7(2):313–317. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Taylor Victoria M., Choe John H., Yasui Yutaka, Li Lin, Burke Nancy, Jackson J. Carey. Hepatitis B awareness, testing, and knowledge among Vietnamese American men and women. J Community Health. 2005 Dec;30(6):477–490. doi: 10.1007/s10900-005-7282-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Zhou Fangjun, Euler Gary L., McPhee Stephen J., Nguyen Thoa, Lam Tram, Wong Ching, Mock Jeremiah. Economic analysis of promotion of hepatitis B vaccinations among Vietnamese-American children and adolescents in Houston and Dallas. Pediatrics. 2003 Jun;111(6 Pt 1):1289–1296. doi: 10.1542/peds.111.6.1289. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES