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Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Testing Among Cambodian American Men and Women

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Abstract

Cambodian Americans have an elevated risk of liver cancer. This health disparity is attributable to high rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Our study examined factors associated with HBV testing among Cambodian men and women. A population-based survey was conducted in the Seattle area. The Health Behavior Framework guided our survey instrument development. We attempted to interview a man and a woman in each household. The sample included 300 men and 367 women. About one-half of the male (45%) and female (54%) respondents had been tested for HBV. Two factors were independently associated with testing among men and women: a doctor had recommended testing and had asked a doctor for testing. Knowing that someone who looks and feels healthy can spread HBV was independently associated with testing among men. Low levels of HBV testing remain a public health problem among Cambodians. Interventions should improve patient-provider communication by encouraging providers who serve Cambodians to recommend HBV testing, as well as by empowering Cambodians to ask for testing.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant CA134245 from the National Cancer Institute. We thank the Cambodian community leaders who participate in our advisory group for their assistance and advice, as well as the survey interviewers for their outstanding work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (M3-B232), 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA

    Victoria M. Taylor, Jocelyn Talbot & Channdara Sos

  2. Department of Health Services, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Roshan Bastani

  3. Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Nancy Burke

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

    Qi Liu & Yutaka Yasui

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    J. Carey Jackson

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  1. Victoria M. Taylor
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Correspondence to Victoria M. Taylor.

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Taylor, V.M., Bastani, R., Burke, N. et al. Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Testing Among Cambodian American Men and Women. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 30–38 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9536-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9536-8

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