FACTS: Health Disparities Among Asian Americans

Access to Healthcare - According to the 2000 U.S. census, Asian Americans represent 4.2 percent of the U.S. population or 11.9 million individuals. Overall, about 21 percent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders lack health insurance, compared to about 16 percent of the general population.

Cancer - During 1988-1992, the highest age-adjusted incidence rate of cervical cancer occurred among Vietnamese American women (43 per 100,000), almost five times higher than the rate among non-Hispanic white women (7.5 per 100,000). During 1988-1992, the highest incidence rate of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer was seen in Vietnamese American men (41.8 per 100,000), more than 10 times higher than the rate among non-Hispanic white men (3.3 per 100,000).

Tuberculosis (TB) - Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders had the highest tuberculosis (TB) case rates (33 per 100,000) of any racial and ethnic population in 2001 (14 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic blacks, 12 per 100,000 for Hispanics/Latinos, 11 per 100,000 for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 2 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic whites).

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) - While the rate of acute hepatitis B (HBV) among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has been decreasing, the reported rate in 2001 was more than twice as high among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (2.95 per 100,000) as among white Americans (1.31 per 100,000).

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