Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities
Abstract
Hepatitis B is a virus that can develop into life-threatening cancers. Three hundred fifty million people are affected with hepatitis B worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa, Russia and West Asia, and ranges in Asia from the Indian Subcontinent to East Asian countries and South East Asia are disproportionately affected areas of the world. For this paper, I examine approaches in the U.S. to treatment and prevention of hepatitis B in Asian-diasporic communities. I found that there are many factors to explain high prevalence, low screening, low education, and low treatment rates in Asian-American and Pacific-Asian communities in the United States, including cultural stigma, English-speaking abilities, and class or ability to afford treatments. Community-based health initiatives such as the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign are part of a larger community-wide initiative directed toward Asian American and Pacific-Asian communities to improve education and reduce stigma. Ultimately, however, I was unable to find community-based testimonials regarding how these disproportionately affected communities consider the current state of, as well as envision their preferred, HBV prevention and treatment.
Recommended Citation
Menninga, Alizarin
(2015)
"Hepatitis B Interventions in East- and Southeast-Asian Communities in the U.S.,"
Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities: Vol. 4:
Iss.
1, Article 12.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/tapestries/vol4/iss1/12
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