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Learning Objective:
Identify key components to set up a public-private pilot project in a community setting
Understand the successes and failures of a community based testing and vaccination clinic
Develop medical provider outreach projects for their own community using 3 For Life data
Background:
The San Francisco Bay Area has 33% of California's Asian/Pacific Islander population and has the highest incidence of liver cancer in the country. One of the strategies suggested is to screen all Asian/Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B and immunize those who are not protected. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the Asian Liver Center of Stanford University (ALC) joined resources and developed a model pilot project offering low-cost hepatitis testing and vaccinating in a community setting. This public-private partnership successfully created an innovative intervention to raise awareness about HBV in the API population.
Setting:
Richmond District YMCA – San Francisco, CA
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
Asian/Pacific Islanders (API) age 18 or older
Project Description:
Clinics were held two Saturdays a month between 11 AM & 2 PM, September 2004 – September 2005. Participants were seen on a first come, first serve basis. Each client was required to pay a fee, in cash, to cover testing for HBV surface antigen and surface antibody responses and hepatitis vaccination (A, B or A/B). Lab test results were mailed to participants within 2 weeks explaining the results and what to do next. Ongoing publicity was maintained through radio, TV and newspaper PSAs.
Results/Lessons Learned:
This type of service is widely accepted by the target population despite the fee. There is an enormous need for community and provider awareness regarding the importance of hepatitis screening, education and follow-up for the API population. Administering both types of hepatitis tests is essential in order to discover the 10% with chronic infection, the 40% with disease immunity, and the 50% vulnerable to HBV infection if unvaccinated
See more of J5 - Models for Hepatitis Prevention and Control for Asian/Pacific Islander Communities
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference