Partnership and action: Creating a health needs assessment and advocacy campaign for Southeast Asians in the Bronx, NYC

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.