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Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander

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Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Populations

OHA acknowledges that people of Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander origins and descent represent unique groups of peoples with rich cultural and geographic etiologic backgrounds.  Our goal moving forward is to provide information separately for each of these communities. Please check back soon for our progress!

According to the CDC, although Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander persons currently comprise about 5% of the U.S. population, they represent more than 50% of persons chronically infected with hepatitis B (HBV). Nearly 70% of Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander persons living in the United States were born or have parents who were born in countries where HBV is endemic. They were infected as infants or young children. Ninety percent of infants exposed to HBV will develop chronic HBV unless they receive vaccination shortly after delivery. 

Asia, continent, main regions, political map with subregions Main regions of Asia. Political map with single countries. Colored subregions of the Asian continent. Central, East, North, South, Southeast and Western Asia. English labeled. Illustration. Vector. asia map stock illustrations Portrait of a young adult asian woman in Venice Portrait of a young adult asian woman in Venice asian stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

The highest rates of chronic HBV infection in the world are found in Africa and Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Five countries accounted for 47% of the cases: Vietnam (19%), China (17%), Philippines (5%), South Korea (3%) and Taiwan (3%).

Pacific Islander persons in Oregon

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Between 2009–2013, 59% of chronic cases HBV reported in Oregon occurred among Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander persons. The highest rates of chronic HBV infection in the world are found in Africa and Eastern and Southeastern Asia. In Oregon, five countries accounted for 47% of the cases between 2009 and 2013: Vietnam (19%), China (17%), Philippines (5%), South Korea (3%) and Taiwan (3%).

Chronic HBV is also more common in Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women than in women of other races. More than half (52%) of chronic HBV laboratory reports in Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander persons occurred in females, while only 32% of cases in all other races combined occurred in females during this time period.

Cancer Risk 

Girl sitting on her mother's lap in Vietnam's Mekong Delta Ba Chuc, Vietnam - June 28, 2007: At a rustic cafe at the intersection of two small country roads near Ba Chuc, a little girl sits in her mother's lap vietnamese family stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Female Portrait Close-up portrait of a young Pacific Islander woman, standing in front of her home. pacific islander stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

The risk of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Oregon is 32 times higher in Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities compared to white persons. Sixty percent of cases of HCC occurred in Asian and Pacific Islander persons between 2008–2013. Oregon mortality data show that Asian people disproportionately die from chronic HBV. Twenty-three percent of deaths from HBV occurring in 2009–2013 were in Asian and Pacific Islander persons. Working together in culturally responsible and respectful ways, OHA and the communities disproportionately impacted by HBV-related liver cancer deaths can reverse this trend.