Despite the growing number of South Asians in the United States, most national research projects still identify the South Asian population as “statistically insignificant.” For this reason, the reproductive health of South Asian women living in the U.S. has been severely overlooked. However, what is known about the reproductive health of South Asian women is not promising. Through they are most likely among women of color to have health insurance, pockets of South Asian women still do not have health coverage. South Asian women are least likely to have had a gynecological exam or pap smear in the last year, often because they lack knowledge about risk factors and believe that cancer is inevitable fatal. Furthermore, issues of HIV/STD infection are not adequately tackled due to social stigmas with respect to premarital sex and sexuality issues in general. This presentation will convey the following information to participants: demographic information of South Asian women living in the U.S.; South Asian women’s unique reproductive health issues; and ideas for improving South Asian women’s reproductive health care by building long-term relationships with health institutions, community based clinics and other relevant entities.
Learning Objectives: 1. Convey demographic information of SOuth ASian women in the United States; 2. Articulate unique reproductive health needs of South Asian women; 3. Provide ideas to collaborate with various health entities to improve reproductive health among South Asian women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: South Asian Public Health Association
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.