The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63016

Susan Koch-Weser, ScM¹, Sidney Liang, BS², Sheila Fernandez², and Dorcas Grigg-Saito, MS². (1) Dept. of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard University School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, (2) Cambodian Community Health 2010 Program, Lowell Community Health Center, 15-17 Warren Street, Lowell, MA 01852, 978-934-0164 ext.206, Sidneyli@lchealth.org

The Cambodian Community Health 2010 project in Lowell, Massachusetts administered a Khmer language health survey which included questions about health care use, language preferences, sources of health information, health knowledge, and traditional health practices. This survey of Cambodian health is one of the few to use a scientific sample and the response rate was 94.5%. Everyone we surveyed was born in Southeast Asia, and all but 5 of the 381 in Cambodia. On average respondents had been living in the US for 15.6 years and in Lowell for 10.7 years. Our survey suggests that health information and health services that are linguistically and culturally competent are essential if the majority of Cambodians are to be served. For example, we found that 78.3% prefer Khmer for health information, and that 18.3% needed an interpreter in a health care setting in the past year but did not have one. In addition to language, transportation was a significant barrier to care, with 29.5% depending on others for rides. Traditional health practices are widespread, and 79.7% of the population used traditional herbs or treatments in the past year. The health information needs of the community are high, and awareness of the risks, symptoms, and treatments for CVD and diabetes is low. The survey results suggest good channels for providing health information. For example, the locally produced Cambodian cable show is widely viewed, younger Cambodians are more likely to use brochures and printed materials, while elders often get health information at the temple.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session participants will be able to:
• Describe the linguistic needs of Cambodians when providing health care and health information.
• Name 3 channels for providing health information to Cambodians.

Keywords: Immigrants, Health Communications

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.