A community-based participatory research approach to understanding racial and ethnic disparities among Chinese-Americans in Malden, MA

According to the 2000 Census, 10 million US residents identified themselves as Asians and these numbers continue to rise. In the last decade, Malden, Massachusetts has witnessed a similar, dramatic population shift resulting from the influx of immigrants and as of the 2000 census, 14% of Malden's population identified as Asians. The dramatic change in the demographic make-up of Malden's residents in the past 12 years has resulted in a high percentage of families with unmet basic needs, including limited access to health care due to social, cultural, educational and economic barriers. The objective of this study was to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the health status, healthcare needs and community strengths of the Chinese community in Malden. In collaboration with a core group of community members and with the assistance of two bi-lingual community outreach workers, this project involved the review of existing data, interviews with community stakeholders and the collection of population survey data from a sample of over 130 Chinese Malden residents. Qualitative and quantitative data suggest that key health issues in this immigrant community include cultural and linguistic concerns that affect health care access as well as mental health concerns. Key community strengths identified include a close-knit community, linkages to religious institutions and a strong sense of culture. Preliminary data obtained from this project suggests that immigrant Chinese populations in Malden, MA experience many health concerns, particularly in regards to healthcare access that warrant further exploration.