Mo Mao L&S Social Sciences
Biosociality and Hepatitis B among Asian communities in the Bay Area
Hepatitis B (Hep B) is a high risk infection that is disproportionately affecting Asian Americans up to date, though testing and vaccinations are available free to low-cost across multiple sites in San Francisco and the surrounding Area. Many studies have tried various community based methods to increase screening rate and number of diagnosed patients willing to accept treatment, yet they failed to address the reasons and solutions for the lack of initiatives of Asian Americans towards Hepatitis B. Therefore, this project aims to address the historical, political, and structural conditions that sustain the high mortality and morbidity rates of Hepatitis B infection among Asian Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area through ethnographic work at Hep B advocacy and education sites hosted by Hep B Free. Combining qualitative data with theoretical frameworks such as Biosociality by Paul Rainbow and Biopower by Michel Foucault, I wish to shed light on the intricacies of how Asian American community interacts with the infection, and to provide insights into ways to reduce the burden of Hep B in Asian Americans.
Message To Sponsor
I would like to thank my donor for providing me the opportunity to conduct my research this summer. This research experience has help me learn not only about the theories and knowledge related to my topic, but also skills on planning, scheduling, and networking with people.Through this experience I now see where I can further improve myself as a scholar and as a person. Last but not least, this opportunity help me connect back to my own identity and reshape my own sense of self.