Paul Watanabe

Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Immunizations among Asian American College Students: Infection, Exposure, and Immunity Rates.

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, exposure, and immunity among Asian American college students as a basis for evaluating HBV screening and vaccination policy. Participants and Methods: Self-identified Asian American college students aged 18 years or older were examined. Serological tests of HBV surface antigens, antibodies to HBV core antigens (anti-HBc), and antibodies to HBV surface antigens (anti-HBs) were used to determine HBV infection and immunization prevalence. Results: Among US-born students (n = 66), none was infected with HBV, 68% (n = 45) had immunity from vaccination, and 1 student had evidence of past exposure to HBV. Among foreign-born students (n = 142), 4% (n = 5) had evidence of chronic HBV infection, 62% (n = 88) had immunity from vaccination, and 19% (n = 27) had results indicating past exposure to HBV. Asian American college students showed very little knowledge of HBV vaccination; 43% reported that they had received vaccination, whereas 50% did not know whether they had received it or not. Conclusions: The prevalence of current and past HBV infection among foreign-born Asian American college students is significantly higher (p < .01), than US-born students. The lack of awareness of their HBV-infected status points out the importance of routine HBV screening of high-risk populations such as Asian students.

Global Forces, Foreign Policy, and Asian Pacific Americans

In his contribution to an important new collection on Asian-American politics, Don T. Nakanishi calls for “renewing a search for a paradign of Asian Pacific American politics” that takes into account “nondomestic political experiences and relationships” (2001, 106). This article addresses Nakanishis challenge to consider efforts by Asian Pacific Americans to influence U.S.–Asia relations, especially in advocating changes in American foreign policy towards their countries of origin; the ways in which international processes and policies related to the flow of people, money, goods, and ideas impinge on the political behavior and status of Asian Pacific Americans; and the impact of international political conflicts and domestic political crises involving Asian homelands on interethnic and intracommunity political relations involving Asian Pacific American communities (2001, 106-7).

Asian Americans and politics: communities and research transformed

More than a decade ago in a review essay (Watanabe 2006) on the state of book-length treatments of Asian Americans and politics, I observed that with the then existing bookshelf pretty bare the measure of progress was growth in the number of books. In this updated review, with the four books under consideration as prime examples (Lai 2011; Wong et al. 2011; Hardy-Fanta et al. 2016; Wong 2017), the major indicator of change is the variety of offerings that have emerged. In their range of topics, levels of analysis, methodological approaches, data sources, etc., scholarship on Asian American politics reflects a vibrancy, range, and maturity that is expanding the boundaries of interest and understanding. Indeed, the selections in this volume manifest nicely the variety I am describing. A second general observation about where we were and where we are now is that there was a time not so long ago when we frantically searched for any inclusion of Asian Americans in studies devoted to American political behavior. For example, research based on survey data was scanned for any meaningful data on Asian Americans generally much less on any subgroups. And, of course, in the rare occasions when this data was reported many of us cringed knowing the likely shortcomings in survey administration around language access, sample sizes, and so on. What we see now, once again represented well by these four books, is research on Asian Americans critically informing the study of American politics. In other words, the best of Asian American research goes beyond fulfilling a desire to simply be included when we talk about American politics and instead plays an important role in shaping the discussions themselves. The electoral activism of Hmong Americans chronicled by Carolyn Wong, for example, sheds light on larger discourses about immigrant and refugee political integration that extend well beyond the Hmong American experience. Similarly, discussions of officeholders of color informed by Carol Hardy-Fanta, Pei-te Lien, Dianne Pinderhughes, and Christine Marie Sierra’s work not only must include Asian Americans but also recognize the critical ways in which the ascension of Asian Americans shapes our understanding of race, gender, and politics in general. The late Ronald Takaki (1989) famously characterized Asian Americans as “strangers from a different shore.” In Asian American Political Participation: Emerging Constituents

Diversity, Inclusion, and the US Census: A Conversation with Paul Watanabe

This interview with political scientist Paul Watanabe examines how the U.S. Census has been and could be instrumental in facilitating or hindering diversity and inclusion efforts in the public and private sectors as well as in the academy. The conversation addresses the impact of the Census’ data gathering and reporting methods on the histories and realities of diverse populations and communities in the United States, the politicization of the survey and the data, the challenges faced by the Census Bureau in its data collection efforts, and how the Census has been perceived as both a vehicle for erasing and recognizing racial and ethnic identities over the years.

Debunking the myth: low knowledge levels of HBV infection among Asian American college students

Objective: To examine the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related knowledge among Asian American college students and to determine whether there are significant differences in the level of HBV knowledge among Asian American subgroups. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was self-administered to assess a sample of 258 Asian American students′ knowledge about HBV at the campus of the research site. Results: Knowledge regarding transmission and consequences of HBV infection was poor. Of a possible knowledge score of 14, the median number of correct answers was eight. There were no significant differences between the subgroups of Asian American college students in total knowledge of HBV infection. Conclusion: The findings of this study point to the fact that the lack of knowledge and awareness is not limited to community settings only but also includes higher education environment. This finding brings to the forefront the importance of HBV education for Asian American college students.