"Know Hepatitis B:" A Multilingual Communications Campaign Promoting Testing for Hepatitis B Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Public Health Rep. 2016 May-Jun;131 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):35-40. doi: 10.1177/00333549161310S206.

Abstract

The "Know Hepatitis B" campaign was the first national, multilingual communications campaign to promote testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). This population comprises fewer than 5% of the total U.S. population but accounts for more than half of the up to 1.4 million Americans living with chronic HBV infection. To address this health disparity with a national campaign, CDC partnered with Hep B United, a national coalition of community-based partners working to educate AAPIs about hepatitis B and the need for testing. Guided by formative research, the "Know Hepatitis B" campaign was implemented in 2013 with a two-pronged communications strategy. CDC used available Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese media outlets on a national level and relied on Hep B United to incorporate campaign materials into educational efforts at the local level. This partnership helped facilitate HBV testing among the priority population.

MeSH terms

  • Asian*
  • Communication*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Hepatitis B / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*