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Hepatitis B Knowledge, Testing and Vaccination Levels in Chinese Immigrants to British Columbia, Canada

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about hepatitis B (HBV) and liver cancer control in Chinese in Canada. Liver cancer, a significant health problem in Asia, is preventable and can be controlled through HBV blood testing, vaccination, and community education about HBV.

Objective

The overall goal was to increase HBV testing and vaccination in Chinese adult Canadians. The objective was to present findings on HBV testing, vaccination and knowledge in Chinese immigrants.

Methods

504 randomly selected Chinese adult immigrants residing in Vancouver responded to the survey which examined HBV blood testing and vaccination practices, HBV knowledge levels and socio-demographic characteristics. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in Cantonese, Mandarin, or English.

Results

57% of participants reported that they had received HBV blood testing, 38% had been vaccinated, and 6% were known HBV carriers. There were gender differences, with lower rates of testing and vaccination, and higher chronic carrier rates, among men. Over 80% knew that HBV can be spread by asymptomatic persons and can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, confusion existed about the routes of HBV transmission.

Interpretation

A sizeable proportion of Chinese adult immigrants in Vancouver have not been tested or vaccinated for HBV. Knowledge level, especially about routes of HBV transmission, was low. This is a concern, given that chronic HBV infection is the most common cause of liver cancer in Asian North Americans. To improve knowledge, reduce risk of infection and the burden of chronic infection and its sequelae in immigrant populations, continuing educational efforts are needed.

Résumé

Contexte

On sait peu de choses sur le virus de l’hépatite B (VHB) et la lutte contre le cancer du foie dans la population chinoise du Canada. Le cancer du foie, un important problème de santé en Asie, est une maladie évitable que l’on peut contrôler par le dépistage du VHB dans le sang, par la vaccination et par la sensibilisation communautaire au VHB.

Objectif

La finalité de l’étude était d’accroître le dépistage du VHB et la vaccination anti-VHB chez les adultes canadiens d’origine chinoise. Son objectif était de présenter les constatations sur le dépistage, la vaccination et les connaissances sur le VHB aux immigrants chinois.

Méthode

Cinq cent quatre (504) immigrants chinois adultes sélectionnés au hasard habitant à Vancouver ont répondu à notre questionnaire, qui portait sur les pratiques de dépistage sanguin du VHB et de vaccination anti-VHB, les niveaux de connaissances du VHB et les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des répondants. Des entretiens en personne ont été menés en cantonais, en mandarin ou en anglais.

Résultats

Cinquante-sept p. cent (57 %) des participants ont dit avoir subi un test de dépistage sanguin du VHB, 38 % ont dit avoir été vaccinés, et 6 % étaient des porteurs connus du VHB. Nous avons constaté certaines différences entre les sexes: chez les hommes, les taux de dépistage et de vaccination étaient plus faibles, et les taux de portage chronique plus élevés. Plus de 80 % des répondants savaient que le VHB peut être propagé par des porteurs asymptomatiques, et qu’il peut causer une cirrhose et le cancer du foie. Il régnait toutefois une certaine confusion quant aux voies de transmission du virus.

Interprétation

Une proportion appréciable d’immigrants adultes d’origine chinoise vivant à Vancouver n’avait ni subi un test de dépistage, ni été vaccinée contre le VHB. Le niveau de connaissances, surtout sur les voies de transmission du virus, était faible. C’est une situation préoccupante, car l’infection chronique à VHB est la cause la plus commune du cancer du foie chez les Nord-Américains d’origine asiatique. Pour améliorer les connaissances, réduire les risques d’infection et alléger le fardeau de l’infection chronique et de ses séquelles dans les populations immigrantes, il faut poursuivre les efforts de sensibilisation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, #2-109, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada

    T. Gregory Hislop MDCM, Chong Teh PhD & Angeline Low PhD

  2. Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Lin Li MD, MS

  3. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Vicky M. Taylor MD, MPH

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

    Shin-Ping Tu MD, MPH

  5. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Yutaka Yasui PhD

  6. Department of Health Services, University of Washington, USA

    Vicky M. Taylor MD, MPH

Authors
  1. T. Gregory Hislop MDCM
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  2. Chong Teh PhD
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  3. Angeline Low PhD
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  4. Lin Li MD, MS
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  5. Shin-Ping Tu MD, MPH
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  6. Yutaka Yasui PhD
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  7. Vicky M. Taylor MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Gregory Hislop MDCM.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: We thank the study participants, the Vancouver interviewers, and the members of the Vancouver community advisors coalition: I. Chan (Canadian Cancer Society), A.Cheung (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.), Dr. M. Jung (Chinese Canadian Medical Society), G. Mumick (Vancouver Coastal Health), Dr. C. Yang (Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society), Dr. E. Yoshida (BC Hepatitis Programme), and Dr. M. Yu (Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver).

Sources of funding: This work was supported by the US National Cancer Institute (grant number CA113663). Y. Yasui was partially supported by the Canada Research Chair Program.

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Hislop, T.G., Teh, C., Low, A. et al. Hepatitis B Knowledge, Testing and Vaccination Levels in Chinese Immigrants to British Columbia, Canada. Can J Public Health 98, 125–129 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404323

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404323

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