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MAY IS ASIAN
AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH |
During the observance of Asian American
and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate the
cultural traditions, ancestry, native languages, and unique
experiences represented among more than 47 ethnic groups from Asia
and the Pacific Islands (speaking over 100 languages) who live in
the United States. We also recognize millions of AAPIs whose love of
family, hard work, and community has helped unite us as a people and
sustain us as a Nation.1 |
AAPIs
represent one of the fastest-growing and most diverse populations in
the United States.2 According
to the 2003 President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, Report to the President and the
Nation, AAPIs comprise many populations that make
critically important contributions to American life. Their
communities often are described as a “model minority” that
generally enjoys superior health status. However, in reality,
the AAPI population experiences genuine health disparities in
cancer screening, diabetes, and infectious diseases, among others.3 |
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ASIAN AMERICANS |
Asian Americans
represent the extremes of both socioeconomic and health indices: |
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Asian American women
experience
the greatest life expectancy (85.8 years) of any other ethnic group
in the U.S.3 |
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Asian Americans have
the highest proportion of college graduates of any racial or ethnic
group (44.1% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree, compared
with 24.4% of the total population).4 |
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Asian Americans contend with numerous factors which may threaten
their health, including infrequent medical visits
due to the fear of deportation, language/cultural barriers, and the
lack of health insurance. |
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Asian Americans are at
a greater risk for: cancer, heart disease,
stroke, unintentional injuries (accidents), and diabetes.3 |
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Asian Americans also have a
high prevalence and risk factors for:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS,
smoking, tuberculosis, and liver disease.3 |
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NATIVE HAWAIIANS
AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS (NHOPIs) |
The
U.S.-associated Pacific Island Jurisdictions
comprises
three Flag Territories: |
American Samoa |
the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) |
Guam |
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and three Freely Associated States: |
The Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) |
The Republic of the
Marshall Islands (RMI) |
The Republic of Palau3
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They are U.S. territories made up of hundreds of small islands and
atolls spread across about 5 million square miles of ocean—nearly
half the size of the United States—with a total population of
469,356 (1999 and 2000 estimates).5 |
It is significant to note
that in comparison to other ethnic groups, Native
Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have higher rates of smoking, alcohol
consumption, and obesity.6 Major causes of premature death
among NHOPIs are obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and
diabetes. 6 |
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EXAMPLES OF
IMPORTANT HEALTH DISPARITIES EXPERIENCED BY ASIAN AMERICANS
/ NATIVE HAWAIIANS & OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS |
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The 5-year relative survival rate for all
cancers for Native Hawaiians is 47%, compared with 57% for whites
and 55% for all races.5 |
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In 2005, Asian American women (ages 18+)
were least likely to have had a Pap test (64.4%) compared with other
racial/ethnic women (non-Hispanic white: 77.7%, non-Hispanic black:
81.1%, Hispanic/Latino: 75.5%, American Indian/Alaska Native: 75.2%.
7 |
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In 2002*,
the infant mortality rate for Native Hawaiians was 9.6 per 1,000
live births, higher than the rate for all AAPIs combined (4.8), and
for all populations (7.0).
8 |
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In 2005, AAPIs aged 40 years and older were
1.2 times more likely
to have Hepatitis B (3.5 per 100,000) than non-Hispanic whites
(2.9).9 |
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FOR MORE
INFORMATION |
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Asian American Populations |
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Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Populations |
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White House Proclamation: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 2008 |