Health Care Practices of the Foreign Born Asian Indians in the United States. A Community Based Survey

Abstract

Although successful utilization of medical and preventive care by members of the non-US born communities is an important public health concern, our knowledge regarding health practices of different ethnic subgroups is limited. In the present study, participants of the health fairs organized during South Asian cultural and religions events were asked anonymously to complete the South Asian Total Health Initiative (SATHI) health survey questionnaire to evaluate their health-related practices, self-health perception, and satisfaction with medical care. Among 1,250 surveyed, 1,016 foreign born Asian Indians adults that represented the fastest growing subgroups of the South Asian born nationals in the US were included in the analysis. We found that the majority reported healthy behavior (exercise activities and abstinence from alcohol or tobacco), high self-health perception, satisfaction with medical care, and compliance with annual routine medical examinations that was directly associated with the annual house income. Approximately 40% of women complied with breast and cervical cancer screenings and less than 20% of men complied with prostate cancer screening guidelines. Presence of chronic conditions (mostly cardiovascular pathology and/or diabetes) that were reported by approximately half of the participants negatively impacted their self-health perception. In conclusion, positive self-reported health perception and compliance with routine health examinations of the surveyed foreign born Asian Indians was reported along with an increased rate of chronic morbidity and underutilization of specific preventive services. Observed discrepancy between self-health perception and health status highlights the need to enhance utilization of preventive services among the non-US born Asian Indian community.

Is Socioeconomic Advantage Associated With Positive Health Behaviors and Health Outcomes Among Asian Indians?

“…6 It should be noted that overall, rates of cervical (75.8%), prostate (73.2%), and colorectal cancer screening (65.8%) among the SAHNA participants were higher than those reported by other studies, which could also be attributed to higher rates of health insurance. By comparison, cervical cancer screening rates of 47.9% 11 and 66.8% 21 among AI women have been reported. The rate of prostate cancer screening among AI men has been reported as low as 16.4%.…”

Immigrant Health in the United States

“…racial minority groups and immigrants (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010; Rosenbaum, 2015). Numerous important studies focus on facets of the SDOH that become the trajectory for the development of chronic diseases across various at risk immigrant groups (Lassetter & Callister, 2009;Mehrotra, Gaur, & Petrova, 2012;Singh, Siahpush, Hiatt, & Timsina 2011;Yun et al, 2012). The research question that guided the review is as follows: What is the current evidence in the past seven years on health disparities among immigrants related to the sociopolitical environment in the United States?…”

Attitudes of South Asian Women to Breast Health and Breast Cancer Screening: Findings from a Community Based Sample in the United States

“…In order to be eligible to complete the survey, participants had to be 18 years of age or older. This survey was embedded within a larger survey (Mehrotra et al, 2012) assessing general health practices and breast cancer screening related attitudes in women. No incentives were provided for completing the survey.…”