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Understanding AA and NHPI Social Determinants of Health
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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.
NIH Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides resources to help you engage your community. Find resources, information, and opportunities to improve understanding of AA and NHPI communities, includes Training & Development, Professional Societies and Orgs, References, and other helpful NIH resources.
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.
Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM)
This site provides a searchable catalog of federal datasets that include disaggregated data about AA and NHPI populations. These datasets cover a variety of topics and are sortable by the disaggregated groups included.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Census Profile
Access U.S. Census Bureau statistics for AA and NPHI populations.
Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities in AA and NHPI Communities Reading List
This reading list developed by the OMH Knowledge Center contains free resources available to read and download focused on health disparities in AA and NHPI populations.
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.
Think Cultural Health
Think Cultural Health is an HHS Office of Minority Health initiative that provides health and healthcare professionals with information, continuing education opportunities, and resources to learn about and implement CLAS and the National CLAS Standards.
MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is an online health information resource from the National Library of Medicine. You can browse a repository of health information available in multiple languages including in many AA and NHPI languages. Browse by language or by health topic.
Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health
Find free health fact sheets and brochures in multiple languages, including many AA and NHPI languages to help people spread health information to 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.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach
Find information and educational materials for AA and NHPI Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers about health and prescription drug coverage and preventive benefits under Medicare.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island Special Emphasis Program
The purpose of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Special Emphasis Program is to provide focus on issues like employment, retention, promotion, training, career development, and advancement opportunities affecting AA and NHPI populations.
Stay Connected with OMH
Stay connected and participate in conversations about health equity on social media by tagging @MinorityHealth and using the hashtags #SourceForBetterHealth and #AANHPIHM on:
Subscribe to OMH E-newsletters
- The FYI Weekly Health Resources newsletter is an email bulletin with links to information on grants, fellowships and scholarships, program resources, events, and more.
- The Health Equity Link is a monthly newsletter for public health, health care and service professionals, and consumers that highlights news, campaigns, events, and programs of interest.