Cross-Sectional Survey of Two Community-Based Health Fairs: Demographics, Healthcare Attitudes, and Hepatitis B.

ABSTRACT

Asian Americans Pacific Islanders (AAPI) share a disproportionate burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in both the United States and New York State. Current hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening and research efforts have focused on urban communities. We administered a cross-sectional survey to 64 attendants at two free health fairs hosted by AAPI organizations on suburban Long Island, New York. We report the demographic make-up, healthcare attitudes, and HBV-related health histories of event attendees in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Participants in Nassau County generally had more access to healthcare (97.1% vs 74.1% insured, 91.4% vs. 63.0% annual physician visit) and more familiarity with HBV screening (57.1% vs 17.2% history of HBV screening, 42.9% vs 3.9% physician recommendation for HBV screening). AAPI are a heterogenous population. Communities in close proximity may be demographically distinct and efforts to screen for HBV should be tailored to individual communities.