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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2003 Jul 1;94(4):281–286. doi: 10.1007/BF03403606

Hepatitis B Knowledge and Practices Among Chinese Canadian Women in Vancouver, British Columbia

Matthew J Thompson 111, Victoria M Taylor 211,✉, Yutaka Yasui 211, T Gregory Hislop 411, J Carey Jackson 311, Alan Kuniyuki 211, Chong Teh 411
PMCID: PMC6979791  PMID: 12873087

Abstract

Introduction

Liver cancer rates are higher in North American Chinese than non-Asian ethnic/racial groups, largely due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods

A community-based survey of Chinese women (n = 147) was completed during 1999 to examine HBV knowledge and practices in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Results

Most women had heard of HBV (85%) but smaller proportions knew about some routes of transmission (e.g., sexual intercourse) and sequelae of infection. Knowledge about HBV was significantly associated with education level (p=0.005), English fluency (p<0.001) and household income (p=0.007). Previous serologic testing for HBV infection was significantly associated with education level (p=0.04), English fluency (p=0.01), and level of knowledge about HBV (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Efforts to increase knowledge about HBV infection in this community should consider targeting less educated and less acculturated individuals.

Footnotes

Supported by grant # 74326 and cooperative agreement # 86322 from the National Cancer Institute.

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