Hepatitis B Screening & Vaccination Behaviors in a Community-based Sample of Chinese & Korean Americans in New York City.

OBJECTIVES

As Asian Americans are dis- proportionately affected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), we explored predictors of HBV screening and vaccination among Chinese and Korean Americans.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from a com- munity-based sample of Chinese Americans (N = 502) and Korean Americans (N = 487) residing in the metropolitan New York City area during 2008-2009. Logistic regression models were stratified by Asian-American subgroup and sex to predict HBV screening (for the entire sam- ple) and HBV vaccination (among those not HBV positive).

RESULTS

Overall, screening rates were high (71.3% among Chinese and 70.1% among Koreans). The majority of respondents were aware of HBV; however, knowledge about HBV transmission was low. In logistic regression, a physician recommendation was consistently associated with HBV screening and vaccination outcomes across all groups; having heard of HBV was significantly associated with screening and vaccination among Chinese males and screening among Korean males and females. Screening and vaccination barriers were reported among all groups, and included lack of knowledge and feeling well/having no health issues.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted efforts in these at-risk communities are necessary to improve HBV knowledge, address misinformation about HBV, and eliminate provider-, patient-, and resource-related barriers to HBV screening and vaccination.