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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
4297.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 4:30 PM

Abstract #106914

Differences in Health Behaviors and Conditions among Filipinos of Differing Generations in the United States

Gabriel James M. Garcia, MA, MPH1, Lourdes Cricel Molina, MPH1, and Grace Gicaro-Torres, MD2. (1) Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA 90405, 3103927642, gabrieljmgarcia@yahoo.com, (2) Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA 90405

BACKGROUND: Approximately 2.3 million Filipinos reside in the U.S., with approximately 50% residing in California, making them one of the largest Asian subgroups in the nation and the state. Since Filipinos have been immigrating to this country in substantial numbers since the early 1900's, Filipino's today are multi-generational. Unfortunately, there has been little research to understand the differences between Filipinos of varying generational status. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to examine whether differences exist in specific health behaviors and conditions between US-born and immigrant Filipinos. METHODS: We analyzed the 2001 Adult California Health Interview Survey, which included a sample of 978 Filipinos. ANALYSIS: We performed chi-square and t-tests to examine whether differences exist between Filipino groups of differing generational status. To determine significant predictors of specific health behaviors and conditions, we performed logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Initial findings indicate that a decreasing proportion of immigrant Filipinos reported eating 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables per week the longer their length of stay in the US, and significantly lower proportion if they are US-born. Logistic regression reveals that US-born Filipinos is 2.4 times more likely to be overweight/obese compared to their early immigrant counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in some health behaviors and conditions were found between US-born and immigrant Filipinos. We can only speculate as to what contributes to these differences. We conclude with a discussion of the importance of culturally-specific health promotion efforts that are sensitive to the heterogeneous Filipino population and the crucial need for a better acculturation measures.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Public Health Policy Issues Affecting Asian Pacific Islander American Communities

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA