Synopsis for August 27, 2004

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Health Disparities Experienced by Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations
2. Physical Activity Among Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders ― 50 States and the District of Columbia, 2001-2003
3. Health Status of Cambodians and Vietnamese ― Selected Communities, United States, 2001-2002
4. Breast- and Cervical-Cancer Screening Among Korean Women ― Santa Clara County, California, 1994 and 2002
5. Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Pacific Islanders ― Hawaii, 2001-2003
6. West Nile Virus Activity ― United States, August 18-24, 2004

Synopsis for August 27, 2004

Health Disparities Experienced by Racial/Ethnic
Minority Populations

No summary available.

Physical Activity Among Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders ― 50 States and the District of Columbia, 2001-2003

More than half of Asian- Americans and Pacific Islanders (A/PI) (61 percent) are not sufficiently active.

The analysis of data from the 2001-2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System showed that only 39 percent of A/PIs meet the recommended levels of physical activity. APIs are encouraged to engage in at least 5 days per week of 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity. This article found that 16 percent of A/PIs are inactive during leisure-time and findings suggest the need to create more opportunities for physical activity. It also found that A/PI women have a lower prevalence of recommended physical activity and a higher prevalence of non-occupational physical activity than men.

Health Status of Cambodians and Vietnamese ― Selected Communities, United States, 2001-2002

Asians are not homogeneous and some Asian subgroups have substantial health disparities in the U.S.

Substantial variation exists in health status among Asian populations and specific racial/ethnic data is needed to address health disparities. Data from the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Risk Factor Survey conducted in one Cambodian community in Massachusetts and three Vietnamese communities in California during 2001-2002 were compared with 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data. Cambodians and Vietnamese had much lower levels of education and household income, a higher cost barrier to health care, and were less likely to have received preventive services such as cholesterol screening, a hemoglobin A1C test, a Pap test, or pneumococcal vaccination than aggregate Asians or the general U.S. population. The health disadvantage was greater in persons interviewed in native languages than those interviewed in English.

Breast- and Cervical-Cancer Screening Among Korean Women ― Santa Clara County, California, 1994 and 2002

Culturally-appropriate educational interventions, better health care access, and health care provider training are needed to improve breast and cervical cancer screening among Korean- American women.

Although breast and cervical cancer screening increased from 1994 to 2002 among Korean women in Santa Clara County, California, this population has not achieved Healthy People 2000 (or 2010) objectives and was less likely to be screened compared to all California women. Cultural and linguistic factors may explain why Korean-American women are less likely to receive screening. Prior research suggests that women without a regular doctor and those with a Korean- American doctor are less likely to be screened.

Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Pacific Islanders ― Hawaii, 2001-2003

No summary available.

West Nile Virus Activity ― United States,
August 18-24, 2004

No summary available.

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This page last reviewed August 26, 2004
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/media/mmwrnews/n040827.htm

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