Take Action to Improve Health Outcomes in AA and NHPI Populations

Understanding AA and NHPI Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Considering the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) populations is fundamental to improving health outcomes and reducing longstanding disparities and inequities.

Data shows that health outcomes for AA and NHPI communities are impacted by a range of both shared and unique SDOH factors, including access to quality health care, social and cultural barriers, environmental, and financial resources. For example, SDOH data collected by Healthy People 2030 show that:

Both AA and NHPI youth were less likely to receive preventive health care and dental services than youth in other racial and ethnic groups.

NHPI households experience higher rates of food insecurity than some other racial and ethnic groups, including Asian Americans.

Asian American adults are least likely among all racial and ethnic groups to report that their health care provider always involves them in health care decisions.

The relationship between SDOH and health disparities and inequities is complex and multilayered. Health disparities are often the result of or exacerbated by intersecting SDOH factors. By addressing SDOH through a comprehensive approach, we can work to advance health equity and reduce health disparities for AA and NPHI populations. Visit the National Minority Health Month Take Action webpage to learn more about the five domains of SDOH.

Taking Action

Public health and community-based organizations can take steps to start improving the health of AA and NHPI populations in their communities by addressing SDOH. Organizations can leverage these steps (Adapted from guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to Be the Source for Better Health in your communities: 

Convene

Bring together members of your community and trusted organizations to identify concerns specific to AA and NHPI members of your community.

Consider

Collect and utilize multiple sources of data and information, including public health data, to help develop strategies that can benefit you and your community. Although we celebrate the contributions of AA and NPHI populations together, it’s important to understand the vast diversity of these groups and how putting the two together can impact the accuracy of data.

Commit

Committing to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) is one way to help eliminate health inequities. Effective, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels are essential to close the gap in health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations.

AA and NHPI communities are incredibly diverse and speak more than 100 different languages and dialects. Approximately one-third of AA and NHPIs have limited English proficiency; this rate is even higher for certain subsets of the populations whose significant language barriers hinder their ability to access health care resources. As a result, many AA and NHPI communities require in-language materials and intentional outreach that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate information enabling them to create healthier outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Collaborate

Work with trusted partners to address the impact of SDOH on AA and NHPI populations and to find innovative solutions that can be put into action. Mobilize partners to develop and implement strategies addressing health disparities and long-standing inequities.