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LAY BELIEFS ABOUT HEPATITIS AMONG NORTH AMERICAN CHINESE: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEPATITIS PREVENTION

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The objective was to learn about the hepatitis prevention behavior of relatively unacculturated North American Chinese adults, along with their knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions with regard to hepatitis, screening, and vaccination. Forty Chinese men and women, aged 18–64, were recruited from immigrant communities in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Semi-structured interviews (Cantonese or Mandarin) were audiotaped, translated, transcribed verbatim, and coded. Open coding, axial coding, constant comparison methods, and QSR NUD*IST 5 software was used for analysis. Findings were validated using eight focus groups. Findings indicated that many interviewees lack accurate knowledge with regard to hepatitis, often confusing the different types. Perceived causes of hepatitis included potentially harmful food (e.g., fried foods or potentially contaminated foods), alcohol, contact with infected individuals, stress, and inadequate rest. Preventive strategies associated with Chinese health beliefs included the use of Chinese herbal medicine, maintaining a stress-free mind, strengthening the body’s natural defenses, and getting enough sleep. Other preventive strategies were the practice of good hygiene, vaccination, and the avoidance of contact with infected persons. Vaccination was not seen as primary, as 65% of those who had heard of hepatitis vaccination did not cite it as a means for hepatitis prevention until asked. Also, participants lacked information about the types and purposes of hepatitis vaccination and were worried about side effects. In conclusion, any attempt to promote hepatitis testing and vaccination among the North American Chinese should take traditional beliefs and practices into consideration.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by Grant #CA097199 and cooperative agreement #1 U01 CA114640-01 from the National Cancer Institute. We would like to thank the study participants for taking the time to complete interviews and share their insight and experience. This work would not have been possible without the dedication of the interviewers Irene Chan, Titania Chan, Nelson Ha, Lina Hsu, Hugo Lau, Angeline Low, Serena Suen, Lucia Tseng, and Ben Tseng.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, Box 359780, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104-2420, USA

    Hueifang Chen PhD, Shin-Ping Tu MD, MPH, Chong Z. Teh PhD, Mei-Po Yip PhD, John H. Choe MD, MPH, T. Gregory Hislop MDCM, Victoria M. Taylor MD, MPH & Beti Thompson PhD

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  1. Hueifang Chen PhD
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  2. Shin-Ping Tu MD, MPH
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  3. Chong Z. Teh PhD
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  4. Mei-Po Yip PhD
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  5. John H. Choe MD, MPH
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  6. T. Gregory Hislop MDCM
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  7. Victoria M. Taylor MD, MPH
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  8. Beti Thompson PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hueifang Chen PhD.

Additional information

Hueifang Chen is Research Analyst, Shin-Ping Tu, Associate Professor, Mei-Po Yip, Research Coordinator, John H. Choe, Acting Instructor, all in the Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Chong Z. Teh is Research Coordinator, T. Gregory Hislop, Research Scientist, in the Division of Cancer Control Research, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Victoria M. Taylor and Beti Thompson are Full Members in the Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

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Chen, H., Tu, SP., Teh, C.Z. et al. LAY BELIEFS ABOUT HEPATITIS AMONG NORTH AMERICAN CHINESE: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEPATITIS PREVENTION. J Community Health 31, 94–112 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-005-9000-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-005-9000-6

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