Culturally targeted interventions developed for
this population should emphasize the confidentiality
of HBV screenings, clarify misconceptions (eg,
deportation of undocumented immigrants who test
positive), reinforce facilitators (eg, encourage participants
to talk to family members about HBV), inform
participants about the treatability of chronic
HBV infection and the benefits of early detection,
and address barriers by providing resources and
information on free or low-cost testing sites. Additionally,
findings indicate that the issue of HBV
needs to be reframed in this community as a prevalent
health problem that affects the community
as a whole, is often transmitted vertically from
mother to baby, and is treatable and controllable
with early detection. Participation from community
leaders and gatekeepers will be needed to reduce
stigma associated with HBV