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Asian Americans

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Asian Americans
Lequyen Tran
Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V
December 20, 2015

Asian Americans The United States (U.S.) is a diverse nation it is comprised of people from different countries all over the world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau report as of July 2014, approximately 36% of the population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority group (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.). As the country continues to become more diverse it also impact changes in health care needs. Patient populations are becoming more diverse and complex with many different health barriers. Minority groups are mainly affected when it comes to health care because of the cultural, language, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical barriers that can burden their health. This essay will focus on one minority group in particular, Asian Americans. It will explain and provide information towards the groups’ current health status, how they define health promotion, and what health disparities exist in this group. Most Asians in America originate from countries in the Far East, Southeast Asia, or Indian subcontinent including countries like: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam (U.S. Census). This minority group is diverse within itself. Many originated from nearly 50 different countries and have over 800 languages and dialects spoken among them (Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), n.d.). They are also one of the fastest growing minority groups in the U.S. with an annual growing rate of 5.2% (AAHI). By 2050, the Asian population is projected to increase to 40.6 million, which will comprise of 9.2% of the total population (CDC). Only 25% of this racial/ethnic minority group are native born; thus, leaving the majority of this population as foreign born. As of July 2014 Asian American contributed to 5.4% of the U.S. population. Most Asian American populations are found in California followed by New York, Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey (CDC). According to the CDC the average health status for this minority group is 7.5% compared to the national average of 8.5% (CDC). Asians are considered to be “model minority” as they are found to have fewer health problems than any other minority group. The Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) considers Asian Americans to be healthier than all racial ethnic groups including whites (HHS, n.d.). Asian American women are noted to have the longest life expectancy of 85.8 years compared to the national life expectancy of 78.8 years; however, it varies among their subgroup with Chinese women having the longest life expectancy of 86.1 years (HHS, n.d.). The three leading cause of death for this minority group is cancer, followed by heart disease, and stroke (CDC). There are many health barriers that make it challenging for this minority group from living a healthy life. Some of those barriers include cultural, language, and socioeconomic. As mentioned before, this minority group is comprised of many subgroups with different culture and languages. Because of these barriers it leads to less medical visits due to lack of language interpreter or fear of deportation. Due to their limited English proficiency it may discourage or prevent them from accessing health care services available to them. Majority of Asian Americans have private health insurance with 16.8% of Asians under the age of 65 are without health insurance (CDC). The 2012 U.S. Census data reported the median household income for Asian American is $70,644 compared to the national median household income of $53,482 (U.S. Census). Even with Asian American having a higher median household income than the national average, 13% still lives in poverty (HHS). Of Asian American 25 years of age or older 85.7% had at least a high school diploma and 50.5% compared to 32.5% non-Hispanic white earned at least a bachelor degree (U.S. Census). Asian Americans faced many challenges and health disparities that put them at risk for improving their health and overall well-being. Asian American women are found to have the lowest screening rates for Pap smear and are usually diagnosed with cancer at a later stage than other minority group (CDC). Therefore, it is imperative to educate this group the importance of screening due to the leading cause of death for this group is cancer. They account for over half of deaths caused by Hepatitis B. They have high prevalence of mental health problems, tuberculosis, and smoking. Their TB prevalence is highest among other racial and ethnic groups. Mostly seen from foreign born who originate in Southeast Asia (CDC). Highest increase in smoking rates of any racial and ethnic groups in youth grades 7-12 (CDC). Although many Asian Americans are afflicted with similar chronic illnesses like the other minority group, it does not mean they necessarily have the similar resources to address their health needs. Because of the lack of resources available to them it places them as vulnerable for serious health problem. Organizations like Asian American Health Initiatives (AAHI) is dedicated to help promote, prevent and collaborate with other organizations to aid Asian Americans in building communities focusing on increasing opportunities, prosperities, and good health (AAHI, n.d.). Nurses can play a huge role in helping this minority group with disease prevention and health promotion by raising awareness of the diseases and risk factors that affect them. In order to facilitate health promotion, nurses must provide appropriate information. Because nurses are accessible through many health care settings, they are the key to health prevention and promotion. The best way to help this minority group is to educate and aid them in taking their health into their own hands. Nurses have the responsibility to promote health through education. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health promotion as “a process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health” (WHO, 2015). In other word, it means to help a person take charge of their own health and work toward improving it. Nurses can provide this through education; therefore, the key to health promotion is health education.

References
Asian American Health Initiatives (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2015 from http://www.aahiinfo.org/english/asianAmericans.php
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Asian American Population. Retrieved December 18, 2015 from cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/asian.html
United States Census Bureau (n.d.). Quick Facts. Retrieved December 18, 2015 from http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/00
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (n.d.). Profile: Asian Americans Retrieved December 18, 2015 from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=63
World Health Organization (2015). Health Promotion. Retrieved December 19, 2015 from http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/en/

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