Skip to Main Content

Print | Bookmark | Email | Font Size: + |

May 3, 2022

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Health (AAPI) Awareness Month

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is one of the highest growing population groups in the United States.

  • It is estimated that the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community accounted for 5.6% or 18.2 million of the US population (Health Disparities Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 2020).
  • It is diverse with representation from over 30 countries and ethnic groups.
  • Each of these smaller groups has its own unique health care needs.

Asian American/Pacific Islander Health Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity to focus on and to provide awareness and education about the health issues that affect this community.

Cancer is thought to be the leading cause of death among for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The top two cancers for this population are cervical cancer and liver cancer.

  • One of the reasons for the higher rate of cervical cancer among AAPI women may be the lower rate of screening for this cancer
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders tend to have a higher rate of liver cancer due to hepatitis B infection and delayed screenings for cancer. 

For both types of cancer, early screening and treatment may contribute to better outcomes for these patients. Hepatitis B screening and immunizations can also assist with lowering the occurrence of liver cancer among these patients.

While not all AAPI are at higher risk for diabetes, certain subgroups of AAPI (Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders located in California and Hawaii) are at higher risk for diabetes. Many of these individuals do not know that they even have diabetes. Diabetes can lead to kidney failure for these individuals if they are not treated.

Mental illness is the unspoken condition in the AAPI community. Oftentimes, those in the AAPI community view discussing mental illness as a sign of weakness. Symptoms are displayed through physical symptoms rather than discussed. Asian American women ages 65-84 have the highest rate of suicide of all racial and ethnic groups (NIMHD | The Center for Asian Health Engages Communities in Research to Reduce Asian American Health Disparities, n.d.).

Barriers to health care access for AAPI include but are not limited to challenges with communication due to language, lack of health insurance, differences in cultural beliefs and cultures, and lack of familiarity with the Western healthcare system. Increasing the public's awareness of the health issues Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are facing and overcoming these barriers are imperative to improving the well-being of this community.

You can take to promote the health of your Asian American and Pacific Islander beneficiaries.

  • Encourage your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and health screenings. Evaluate your patients' mental well-being during medical visits.
  • Educate patients on healthy habits such as exercising, and eating a well-balanced diet including foods that are low in salt, fat, and cholesterol.
  • Talk to your patients about vaccinations and encourage them to schedule them if they are eligible.

To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive ServicesExternal website

For More Information

References

spacer

26 Century Blvd Ste ST610, Nashville, TN 37214-3685 © CGS Administrators, LLC. All Rights Reserved