Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, New York, 10467, United States.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10461, United States.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 28;24(1):2985. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20358-3.
There is a high burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in West Africa. Over the past 20 years, West African immigration to the United States (U.S.) has been increasing. Prevalence of HBV infection in West Africa has been reported to be as high as 5-10%.
We sought to understand knowledge and attitudes of and barriers and facilitators to HBV screening, vaccination, and treatment in a cohort of West African immigrants in the Bronx living with or at risk for HBV through a series of one-on-one qualitative interviews. We interviewed 23 West African immigrants and analyzed transcripts for recurring themes using Applied Thematic Analysis. We situated our analysis in the socioecological model (SEM) and adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).
Multiple themes emerged, most prominently themes relating to HBV knowledge/awareness, trust in U.S. healthcare providers and the U.S. healthcare system, positive social support improving healthcare access, knowledge sharing, stigma towards those with HBV, issues concerning immigration status, insurance status, and access to healthcare services.
Raising awareness of HBV, addressing social and structural barriers such as stigma and health insurance, and improving access to culturally sensitive programs among West African communities are needed to increase HBV screening, vaccination, and linkage to care.
在西非，乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）的负担很重。在过去的 20 年里，西非移民到美国（U.S.）的人数一直在增加。据报道，西非 HBV 感染的患病率高达 5-10%。
我们通过一系列一对一的定性访谈，试图了解在布朗克斯生活的或有 HBV 感染风险的西非移民对 HBV 筛查、疫苗接种和治疗的知识、态度以及障碍和促进因素。我们采访了 23 名西非移民，并使用应用主题分析对转录本进行了反复出现的主题分析。我们将分析置于社会生态学模型（SEM）中，并遵守定性研究报告的综合标准（COREQ）。
出现了多个主题，其中最突出的主题是与 HBV 知识/意识、对美国医疗保健提供者和美国医疗保健系统的信任、改善医疗保健获取的积极社会支持、知识共享、对 HBV 患者的污名化、与移民身份、保险状况和医疗保健服务获取相关的问题。
需要提高对 HBV 的认识，解决污名化和医疗保险等社会和结构性障碍，并改善西非社区的文化敏感性项目的获取，以增加 HBV 筛查、疫苗接种和获得护理。
