User:Leamanda/Health status of Asian Americans

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Improving Asian American healthcare delivery

Policy approaches

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Grassroots movements

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Community-based participatory research

To address the deficiencies in Asian American healthcare delivery, national organizations such as the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) have taken on community-based participatory research initiatives by connecting with local community partners to increase research and knowledge about historically underrepresented populations. Both of these organizations were originally formed to address the lack of Asian American voices on issues that affect the health of their communities. AAPCHO and APIAHF work with community health centers in the United States to research and develop data on their patients. By working with organizations within the Asian American community, larger organizations have more data on the communities they aim to serve and are therefore better equipped to created informed policy and provide knowledgable care.

To better support Asian American health, studies have been done to establish best practices for community-based participatory research. One organization engaging in this research is the Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) which follows three principles: “(1) creating and sustaining multiple partnerships; (2) promoting equity in partnerships; and (3) commitment to action as well as research” . Some strategies that CSAAH entailed (Dr. Talwalker notes:change word) included working with both health and non-health organizations to address the fact that many Asian Americans seek medical information from non-health centers. They have also worked with organizations that represented specific Asian ethnic groups, making an effort to better understand the diversity within a historically homogenized group.

Peer-to-peer education

Peer-to-peer education for young Asian-Americans

Peer education is effective in sharing information with its target population since people are more likely to listen to and engage with information when it comes from people with similar backgrounds. Youth who are often conflicting with the adults in their life find peer education to be especially useful. Peer health education trains students to educate other students on sexual health topics, and since youth often rely on their peers for information, training students is a tactic that organizations, such as Asian Health Services (AHS) in Oakland, CA (Dr. Talwalker notes), use to increase the spread of reliable information.

Major factors as to why Asian American youth have poor sexual health communication with their providers are confidentiality concerns, lack of knowledge about sexual health, and hesitancy and discomfort with discussions of these topics. By utilizing peer-led workshops and project teams, organizations, such as Asian Health Service Youth Program (AHSYP), engage in approaches that can improve knowledge and attitudes about sexual health topics for Asian American adolescents. Additionally, by using social media and technology to educate teens about reproductive and sexual health, Asian American youth have greater privacy to learn about and engage in these conversations, helping address disparities that arise due to cultural stigma.