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Abstract #157145

Douglas Nam Le¹, Noilyn Abesamis, MPH², Chhaya Chhoum³, Sandra Sebastin, MSW³, Savannarith Chy³, Khemarin Srey³, Quang Trinh³, Henrietta Ho-Asjoe, MPS¹, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH⁴, Nadia Islam, MA, MPhil⁴, and Mariano Rey, MD⁵. (1) Institute of Community Health & Research, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, SLH, New York, NY 10016, 212-263-0485, douglas.le@med.nyu.edu, (2) Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, 530 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, (3) Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV): Organizing Asian Communities, 2473 Valentine Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458, (4) Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU Center for Study of Asian American Health, 550 First Avenue, MSB-153, New York, NY 10016, (5) Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, MSB-153, New York, NY 10016

Background: One-third of Southeast Asians (SEAs) in NYC, predominantly Cambodian and Vietnamese, reside in the Bronx, an NYC borough. The Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) partnered with CAAAV-Organizing Asian Communities to develop a community health needs assessment for SEAs in the Bronx. This initiative was part of CSAAH's larger Community Health Needs and Resource Assessment and CAAAV's campaign for comprehensive healthcare for SEAs. Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the healthcare access, mental health, cardiovascular health and diabetes needs of Cambodians and Vietnamese in the Bronx. Method: We worked with CAAAV's Youth Leadership Project to identify prevalent community health concerns; to build youth organizers' capacity in community-based participatory research; and to develop a survey tool administered in Khmer, Vietnamese, and English. Results: Preliminary analysis of the needs assessment (n=200) indicates significant poverty, language barriers to accessing healthcare, low health literacy, and poor management of chronic illness in the community. Among respondents thus far, 50% have public health insurance; 28% know someone with diabetes; 22-30% report at least one symptom of depression, anxiety, or PTSD; 28% require interpretation in healthcare settings. Results are being disseminated to healthcare officials and the community at-large to implement programs serving SEAs. Conclusion: This partnership provided opportunities to strengthen community organizing efforts through research and advocacy. The needs assessment and advocacy campaign served as a platform to engage healthcare providers and community leaders in developing local healthcare services and resources that are accountable and appropriate to the community.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will

(
• learn about the health and community needs of Southeast Asians in an NYC borough; (
• understand the successful application of CBPR with emergent API communities; (
• gain practical knowledge to identify community needs and develop advocacy strategies to impact community health.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.