Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data.
<h4>Background</h4>Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Vietnamese Americans is reportedly high. Understanding the profile of those at greater risk of HCV in this ethnic population is a vital step to addressing this high prevalence. We hypothesize that certain sociodemog...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275210 |
| _version_ | 1828161857881374720 |
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| author | Alice W Lee Wura Jacobs Michelle Tran Becky Nguyen Dung N Hua John N Ho Thai Van Nguyen |
| author_facet | Alice W Lee Wura Jacobs Michelle Tran Becky Nguyen Dung N Hua John N Ho Thai Van Nguyen |
| author_sort | Alice W Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Vietnamese Americans is reportedly high. Understanding the profile of those at greater risk of HCV in this ethnic population is a vital step to addressing this high prevalence. We hypothesize that certain sociodemographic characteristics increase the likelihood of having HCV in Vietnamese Americans.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-sectional data from 2,497 Vietnamese Americans in Southern California who participated in a series of community hepatitis screening events organized by the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF) were analyzed. Serological tests via immunoassays were used to determine whether the participant had hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) to indicate a HCV infection. Sociodemographic characteristics as well as participants' reasons for screening were collected from questionnaires, and logistic regression models with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to quantify their associations with HCV infection.<h4>Results</h4>Approximately 5.8% of the study population was infected with HCV. Older adults and male participants had higher odds of being infected with HCV (e.g. OR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.25-6.76 for ages 70+ versus ages <40; OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.79-3.69 for male versus female participants) as were those with a family history of HCV infection (OR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.57-4.78). In addition, perceived self-risk as a motivation for screening was significantly associated with HCV infection (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.26-2.78).<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study identifies specific subgroups in the Vietnamese American community who would largely benefit from targeted interventions given their higher likelihood of having HCV. These interventions should emphasize improving HCV knowledge and promoting HCV self-risk assessment since awareness of one's own risk may motivate those likely to be infected to get screened. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:45:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-284162d2e6984d6393daf1a5b3f02a47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:45:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-284162d2e6984d6393daf1a5b3f02a472022-12-22T03:54:53ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01179e027521010.1371/journal.pone.0275210Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data.Alice W LeeWura JacobsMichelle TranBecky NguyenDung N HuaJohn N HoThai Van Nguyen<h4>Background</h4>Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Vietnamese Americans is reportedly high. Understanding the profile of those at greater risk of HCV in this ethnic population is a vital step to addressing this high prevalence. We hypothesize that certain sociodemographic characteristics increase the likelihood of having HCV in Vietnamese Americans.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-sectional data from 2,497 Vietnamese Americans in Southern California who participated in a series of community hepatitis screening events organized by the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF) were analyzed. Serological tests via immunoassays were used to determine whether the participant had hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) to indicate a HCV infection. Sociodemographic characteristics as well as participants' reasons for screening were collected from questionnaires, and logistic regression models with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to quantify their associations with HCV infection.<h4>Results</h4>Approximately 5.8% of the study population was infected with HCV. Older adults and male participants had higher odds of being infected with HCV (e.g. OR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.25-6.76 for ages 70+ versus ages <40; OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.79-3.69 for male versus female participants) as were those with a family history of HCV infection (OR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.57-4.78). In addition, perceived self-risk as a motivation for screening was significantly associated with HCV infection (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.26-2.78).<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study identifies specific subgroups in the Vietnamese American community who would largely benefit from targeted interventions given their higher likelihood of having HCV. These interventions should emphasize improving HCV knowledge and promoting HCV self-risk assessment since awareness of one's own risk may motivate those likely to be infected to get screened.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275210 |
| spellingShingle | Alice W Lee Wura Jacobs Michelle Tran Becky Nguyen Dung N Hua John N Ho Thai Van Nguyen Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. PLoS ONE |
| title | Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. |
| title_full | Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. |
| title_fullStr | Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. |
| title_short | Sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Vietnamese Americans: A cross-sectional analysis of community screening data. |
| title_sort | sociodemographic characteristics associated with hepatitis c virus infection in vietnamese americans a cross sectional analysis of community screening data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275210 |
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