Self-Rated Health Status Comparing Pacific Islanders to Asians

Disease reporting for Asians/Pacific Islanders often conflicts and is, many cases, inaccurate because of the aggregation of Asians and Pacific Islanders. An analysis of 2005 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System data was performed to examine health status of Asians compared to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. Findings show a significant difference between Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, with a greater likelihood for Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders to rate their health as poor. Conclusion: Asians and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders do not have the same health status. By aggregating these two distinctly different populations, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are silenced. The aggregate disease reporting, which is limited and inaccurate, precludes advocacy efforts and the political power to intervene, and stifles the ability to create change and improvement for these populations.