 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
John H. Choe, MD, MPH1, Victoria M. Taylor, MD, MPH2, Yutaka Yasui, PhD2, Nancy J. Burke, PhD3, Tung T. Nguyen, MD4, Elizabeth Acorda, BA2, and J. Carey Jackson, MD, MA, MPH5. (1) Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, P.O. Box 19024, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., MP-702, Seattle, WA 98109, (206) 667-7802, johnchoe@u.washington.edu, (2) Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 19024, MP702, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-1024, (3) Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 200, Box 0981, San Francisco, CA 94143 -0981, (4) Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0320, San Francisco, CA 94143, (5) Division of General Internal Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359780, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is more than 12 times higher in Vietnamese American men compared to non-Latino White men; this can be attributed to high rates of hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and low rates of vaccination. Our study examined factors associated with HBV serology testing among Vietnamese American men.
METHODS: We conducted an in-person survey of 509 randomly selected Vietnamese men aged 18-64 years in Seattle. Self-reported past HBV serology testing was assessed; we used bivariate comparisons and stepwise logistic regression to identify potential predictors of HBV testing.
RESULTS: 65% reported any past serology test for HBV. The following factors were associated with past HBV testing in bivariate comparisons (p<0.05): age; marital status; proportion of life in the U.S.; English proficiency; health insurance type; having regular source of medical care; health status; number of physician visits; reported long waits for medical appointments; having difficulty taking time from work; and being concerned with medical costs. Our multiple logistic regression analysis identified the following variables to be independently associated with past HBV testing (p<0.05): older age; college education; low English proficiency; private health insurance; having a regular medical provider; and reporting no long waits for medical appointments.
CONCLUSION: More than one-third of participants reported no history of HBV serology testing. Younger and less educated men and those with difficulty accessing medical care are at particular risk. Programs to reduce the high rates of HBV transmission and sequelae (cirrhosis and HCC) should make special effort to target these vulnerable Vietnamese Americans.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asian Americans, Hepatitis B
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.