Understanding Liver Health in the Hmong Community
HHCPC is partnering with Mayo Clinic and the Minnesota Liver Health Collaborative to better understand liver disease in the Hmong community and improve education about the importance of screening for hepatitis B, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic (fatty) liver disease—conditions that can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer if left untreated.
As part of this effort, HHCPC has conducted a series of community listening sessions to better understand awareness, perceptions, and barriers to liver disease prevention and care. Participants shared their knowledge of hepatitis B, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, as well as their concerns and experiences navigating the healthcare system. Through culturally informed discussions and plain-language education, facilitators explained how liver disease develops, why early screening matters, and what treatment options are available.
These conversations have provided valuable insights into the challenges community members face, including limited awareness, fear and stigma, language barriers, and mistrust stemming from past healthcare experiences. The findings are helping HHCPC and its partners develop more culturally responsive educational materials, strengthen community outreach, and improve access to liver disease screening, prevention, and treatment for the Hmong community.
