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336343
Health needs of emerging smaller Asian American sub-populations


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 4:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

Rebecca Park, Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Catlin Rideout, MPH, Section for Health Equity, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nida Ashraf, MD, Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Charity Hung, NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Yousra Yusuf, MPH, NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York City, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: Asian Americans (AAs), a group representing more than 50 subgroups and 100 languages, grew faster than any other US race/ethnic group; however, AAs remain poorly understood and understudied. Based on Census from 2000-2010, the fastest-growing sub-populations included the Bhutanese with a 10,000% increase, Nepalese (597%), Burmese (554%) and Bangladeshi (203%). Much of our existing knowledge about AA health needs is locally concentrated on the West coast and focused on larger Asian subgroups, yet AAs continue to increase across the US in non-traditional immigrant gateway cities. Even less is known on smaller emerging AA sub-populations who represent numerically small numbers (i.e. Bhutanese number 15,290).

Methods: A literature review of smaller emerging AA sub-populations was conducted along with targeted community health and resource needs assessments (CHRNA) between 2013-2014 in the NYC Arab, Bangladeshi, Himalayan (Tamang, Sherpa, Tibetan, and Mustang subgroups) and Cambodian communities using community venue-based sampling and implemented in partnership with community-based organizations.

Results: The literature review resulted in 9 relevant articles. The majority were focused in NYC or California (n=6), and several noted challenges regarding lack of existing data and difficulties in gaining access and identifying sub-populations due to small numbers, mobility or other issues (language). Preliminary CHRNA data (N=407) indicate high levels of limited English proficiency among Himalayans (n=156; 87%) and Bangladeshis (n=122; 79%), and differences in health priorities by subgroup: Arabs (n=73) identified headaches (33%) and CVD (29%); Cambodians (n=56) CVD (52%) and respiratory problems (49%); and Himalayans headaches (33%) and oral health (26%).

Conclusions/Discussion: A paucity of research exists on the health needs of smaller emerging AAs sub-populations. Key recommendations include: 1) Disaggregated data collection and analyses; 2) Capacity-building to facilitate community engagement and information sharing; and 3) Sustainable and equitable resource allocation at the local and regional levels to address health-related needs and services.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Identify emerging Asian American sub-populations in New York City, including health priorities and socioeconomic factors; and discuss strategies and the needs for collecting and disseminating data disaggregation to demonstrate significant health patterns in Asian American sub-populations.

Keyword(s): Asian Americans, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the director and an associate investigator on the Center for the Study of Asian American Health, an NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities-funded center of excellence. I have overseen the community needs assessment on which this abstract is based.
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.

Back to: 4400.0: Data Disaggregation and Revealing Significant Health Patterns in Asian and/or Pacific Islander American Populations