Examining the health status of Asian immigrants in Canada

Xiong, Hui (2008) Examining the health status of Asian immigrants in Canada. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study examined the health status of Asian immigrants, and mammogram and Pap smear use among Asian immigrant women, using data from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey cycle 2.1. It shows that Asian immigrants were in better health than non-immigrants, with respect to chronic conditions, but were disadvantaged in terms of their self-perceived health. Non-Asian immigrants had patterns similar to non-immigrants in terms of chronic conditions, but were also disadvantaged with respect to self-perceived health. Socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors did not explain the differences between non-immigrants and Asian and non-Asian immigrants. Asian immigrant women had low rates of mammogram and Pap smear use compared with nonimmigrant women. Non-Asian immigrant women had significantly lower rates of Pap smear use than non-immigrant women, but had patterns similar to non-immigrant women in mammography use. While language is an important barrier to mammogram use for many Asian immigrant women, a perceived lack of necessity and lack of time are major barriers to Pap smear use. The study suggests that additional research is needed to explore the health effect of factors such as culture and the immigration experience in general, which were not considered in this study. Targeted efforts should be made to promote screenings in Asian immigrant women.

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