230530 Health and mental health care disparities in Asian American women: Results from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Hoa Bui Appel, PhD, MPH , Independent Research, Researcher, Everett, WA
Amy L. Ai , School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Bu Huang, PhD , Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Chyongchiou Lin Jr., PhD , Department of Family Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittaburgh, PA
Minorities frequently receive health care that is inadequate with respect to both quantity and quality. Race and gender disparities in health and health services in this country have been documented but poorly explained. Our study aims to examine race and gender disparities in matters of behavioral and mental health, especially in Asian women using the National Latino Asian American Study (NLAAS), the first population-based national survey for Latino and Asian American regarding mental health issues.

Our study comprised 1,097 Asian American women aged 18 years or older residing in the U.S. All participants were interviewed by trained bilingual interviewers. Methods used were frequency descriptions, crosstab tables, T-test and ANOVAs. Among the respondents, 171 had sought help from service providers regarding mental health related issues. Filipino women had more weight problems while Vietnamese women sought mental health help the least and also had the lowest rate of chronic back and neck pain, headaches and other chronic pain. Chinese women have the lowest incidence of high blood pressure. While the rate of cancer, heart disease and stroke were low among all three groups, they had more ulcers and intestinal problems than white women. Our findings suggest health conditions are different among the Asian subgroups. Health professionals must provide cultural and linguistic minorities with more access and referrals to specialists. Our study aims to fill the gap for the study of Asian Americans regarding mental health care disparities using social, cultural and immigration variables, which are significant indicators to these ethnic groups.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the significant factors, including those related to discrimination and acculturation, that contribute to the lack of service seeking among Asian American women 2. Discuss an overall view of behavioral and mental health related issues for Asian Women 3. Discuss how Asian American women regard behavioral and mental health issues 4. Describe how they seek help for these issues.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm the primary researcher in this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.