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Asian and Pacific Islander mortality differences in Hawaii
1Center on Aging, School of Public Health, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822, USA. kbraun@hawaii.edu
Social Biology
|February 3, 1998
Summary
Disaggregating Asian and Pacific Islander (API) health data is crucial. Native Hawaiians experience higher mortality rates than other API groups, highlighting the need for targeted health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- National health data for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Americans is often aggregated, masking disparities.
- Aggregated data can obscure the poor health status of specific API subgroups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mortality rates among five major ethnic groups in Hawaii: Caucasians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, and Native Hawaiians.
- To examine methodological challenges in comparative studies of API health indicators.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 1990 Hawaii vital records and population data.
- Estimated standardized and age-specific mortality rates for major causes of death.
- Calculated 95% confidence intervals for mortality rates.
Main Results:
- Mortality rates were highest among Native Hawaiians.
- Mortality rates were lowest among Japanese and Chinese populations.
- Demonstrated significant variations in health status within the broader API demographic.
Conclusions:
- Disaggregating API data is essential for identifying and addressing health disparities.
- Native Hawaiians require targeted public health attention to improve health outcomes.
- Comparative analyses of API health indicators are feasible with appropriate data sets.