Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations

Over the past few decades, diversity in population has spread vastly in the United States of America especially because of interracial marriages and an increase in immigration. It is thus necessary to study and discuss implications for the country this surge in diversity will bring in the future, one of them being the national health statistics. Asian American population is one such diverse population that is increasing every day and is affecting the national average for many health statistics. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of these statistics and compare and contrast them with the national average to understand how health can be promoted to this chunk of the population and bring about positive health implications for future Americans.

The Office of Management and Budget uses the term Asian American for a vast variety of diverse populations namely from Southeast Asia, and in and around the Indian subcontinent e.g. countries like China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Pakistan. It is projected that by the year 2030 the overall Asian American population will comprise 9.2% of the total American population (United States Census Bureau, 2010). Currently, the top most leading health issues of this population that lead to death are cancer, heart disease, stroke, unintentional injuries, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, chronic lower respiratory diseases, kidney diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and suicide. However, compared to the national average all of these causes of death are lesser than other populations. In addition to these physical diseases Asian Americans also have a prevalence of domestic violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse (United States National Library of Medicine, 2013).

It is generally observed that health promotion was not given much importance in previous generations of Asian Americans probably because of lower socioeconomic status, focus on other aspects of life like education and work, a general lack of knowledge about diet and healthy habits, and use of herbal or home remedies and medications for most diseases. The new and younger Asian American generation seems more concerned about their health and health-related issues probably because they do not want to suffer like their parents and grandparents, and also because they are more educated and have the financial means to support a healthier lifestyle. Education plays a vital role in promoting healthy habits and the earlier they are instilled in people, the longer they last through their lifetime. Young Asian Americans prefer organic food for example, over the usual foods that carry preservatives and other chemicals. They make time for both nutrition and physical activity to prevent diseases like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases in old age. Diseases like diabetes that develop over time and are carried through genetic dispositions are also being addressed earlier on by Asian Americans (King, et.al., 2012). Such measures are indicative of more health promotion and awareness in this diverse minority group.

There is evidence of all three levels of prevention being used by the Asian America population in America. Primary prevention is mostly used by the younger generation as mentioned before, secondary by the middle-aged group, while tertiary is most widely used by the elderly generation that has already developed certain aged related diseases like arthritis. Given the current state of health and health-related issues of this minority group it seems like primary prevention methods will be most effective to bring diseases under control and reduce future occurrences. This relates to the aforementioned fact that second-generation Asian Americans are more concerned about health than their parents due to more awareness, higher socioeconomic status, desire to have a healthier lifestyle, and education in general. These Americans also get their regular doctor check-ups done on time and also get regular screening like pap smears, breast cancer screening, and prostate screenings in a timely fashion to prevent future illnesses.

The primary approach requires assessment, allocation of funds, and educational programs at the grass-root level to be applied and result effectively. One study proposed state or federal programs collaborating with local faith-based and educational organizations for Asian Americans to promote health awareness (Asian American Health Initiative, 2008). Directly related to such initiatives are the kinds of health disparities this minority group is exposed to. Lower-income leads to a lower quality of education that in turn leads to limited understanding of dietary and healthy lifestyle requirements. Asian Americans from lower socioeconomic strata cannot afford high-end food retailers. Those who are unemployed depend on food stamps and the kind of food the stamps provide. Those who work in labor-intensive jobs are also exposed to injury and poor health. They cannot afford wealthy neighborhoods so their residences are usually in and around cramped neighborhoods some of them being proximal to highways raising the exposure to pollution. These disparities continue into the health realm in the form of early pregnancy and infant mortality, HIV, obesity, preterm births, coronary heart disease, periodontitis, asthma, hypertension, and tuberculosis (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).

Concluding this discussion thus it is evident that Asian Americans are prone to acquiring some diseases more than the average American simply because of their socioeconomic status, lower education, and overall lower quality of life. There is hope for second and third-generation Asian Americans because their parents compromised for a lower quality of life for their future’s sake. Nonetheless being the minority that is increasing in the population most amongst other minorities, it is imperative that the government and state pay attention to the health requirements and needs of this group.

References

Asian American Health Initiative. (2008). Asian American health priorities. Asian American Health Initiative. Retrieved from http://aahiinfo.org/phpages/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/AAHINeedsAssessment2008.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). CDC health disparities & inequalities report (CHDIR). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth /CHDIReport.html

King, G.L., McNeely, M.J., Thorpe, L.E., Mau, M.L.M., Ko, J., Liu, L.L., Sun, A.,Hsu, W.C.& Chow, E.A. (2012). Understanding and addressing the unique needs of diabetes in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. American Diabetes Association-Diabetes Care. Retrieved fromhttp://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/5/1181.short

National Library of Medicine. (2015). Asian American health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asianamericanhealth.html

United States Census Bureau. (2010). The Asian population: 2010. U.S. Department Of Commerce, Economics, and Statistics Administration. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-11.pdf