Low knowledge and high infection rates of hepatitis in Vietnamese men in Sydney

Abstract

Abstract.Objective: To describe hepatitis B and C knowledge and self-reported infection and risk behaviour in a group of Vietnamese men living in inner-urban Sydney, in order to assist with future program planning. Methods: Data were collected through telephone interviews conducted in Vietnamese using a structured questionnaire from 499 of 761 eligible men contacted, giving a response rate of 66%. The data were weighted to be consistent with the age distribution of Vietnamese men in the area. The findings were compared with a published national telephone study. Results: Low knowledge levels of hepatitis B and C were found when compared with data from a published national telephone study. The factors associated with higher mean knowledge scores for hepatitis B were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever having been tested for HIV (P < 0.001) and knowing someone with HIV (P < 0.0001). For hepatitis C, the factors were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever injecting drugs (P < 0.05) and being vaccinated for hepatitis B (P < 0.001). Knowledge regarding hepatitis B was particularly poor. High rates of self-reported hepatitis B infection were noted. Of the participants, 7.2% were aware that they had ever been infected with hepatitis B, more than 10 times the rate in the national telephone study. Conclusion: Lower levels of hepatitis B knowledge have been identified in a community with higher numbers of people living with chronic hepatitis B. Targeted community-wide awareness-raising campaigns and health care worker education is required to improve knowledge of hepatitis B and rates of screening in the Australian Vietnamese community.

Challenges in managing patients in Australia with chronic hepatitis B: the General Practitioners’ perspective

“…This supports previous Australian research showing some people with CHB associating hepatitis B with poor sanitation, hepatitis B as an infection progressing to HIV, or identifying hepatitis A, B and C as sequential levels of hepatitis 24 . Low community awareness of hepatitis B was identified as another barrier supporting the findings of Australian 25–27 and North American 28–32 studies reporting poor knowledge of hepatitis B among South‐East Asian communities associated with inadequate screening 30 …”

Accelerating the elimination of viral hepatitis: a Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission

“…In 2012, 57% of Australians with HBV were diagnosed, 13% were linked into care following diagnosis and only 5% had received antiviral therapy 385 . Barriers to treatment include lack of awareness of the risks of HBV infection among patient populations, general practitioners, and health care workers [386][387][388][389][390][391][392] ; inadequate guidelines for diagnosis by general practitioners and referral to specialist services; and underdeveloped shared care pathways between specialists, primary care physicians and nurses for patients with HBV 393 .…”

Evidence-based clinical guidelines for immigrants and refugees

“…The data suggest that knowledge of hepatitis C is generally low and that it is significantly lower for immigrants than for nonimmigrants. 306,307 Predictors of better knowledge are higher levels of education, employment and being highly accultured. 307 We found no data on the proportion of immigrants who accept screening for hepatitis C virus or their compliance with treatment of infection.…”

“…306,307 Predictors of better knowledge are higher levels of education, employment and being highly accultured. 307 We found no data on the proportion of immigrants who accept screening for hepatitis C virus or their compliance with treatment of infection. In addition to potential patient barriers to the uptake of screening, there are likely important barriers that prevent primary care practitioners from recommending screening.…”