Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) represent the fastest growing minority population in the U.S. In 1996, AAPIs comprised 9.7 million of the total US population and are projected to increase to 12.1 million by the year 2000. AAPIs are a diverse group encompassing more than 50 nations with distinct languages, culture, history of immigration, and health beliefs and practices. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for AAPIs and risk factors vary across sub-groups. Studies show low levels of cardiovascular awareness, treatment and control among AAPIs suggesting the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention strategies.
In 1998, the NHLBI launched the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Outreach Initiative to (1) increase knowledge and awareness of heart disease and (2) enable AAPIs to practice heart healthy behaviors. The presentation will discuss the impact of heart disease on AAPIs; highlight strategies used to assess community priorities, needs, and opportunities for health promotion; and provide the public health community an update on the progress of this project.
A thorough assessment of varying community health priorities, needs, and opportunities is an important step in promoting cardiovascular health for AAPIs. A variety of tools, such as ethnographic interviews, community advisory panels, and key informant interviews, may be employed to build a rich inventory of knowledge and resources.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the impact of CVD and associated risk factors upon different AAPI sub-groups. 2. Understand how to use community partners in identifying community priorities, needs, and opportunities to develop a culturally/linguistically appropriate outreach project 3. Describe culturally/linguistically appropriate strategies for health promotion and outreach for targeted AAPI groups
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Heart Disease
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.