Health Disparity of Liver Disease among Asian Americans: Research Paper

Health Disparity of Liver Disease among Asian Americans
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Health Disparity of Liver Disease among Asian Americans
The increasing ethnic diversity in the US is coming at a bigger cost of widening health disparity among minority demographic groups. Perceptions, policies, and practices of specific ethnic groups define their susceptibility to some illnesses. This research explores the health disparity of liver disease, with or without alcohol, among Asian Americans, emphasizing the prevalent statistics and the strategies to address the challenges. Effective management of widening health disparity of liver diseases among Asian Americans must begin with an analysis of the scope of the problem and end with strategic approaches, Inclusion Asian Americans in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) therapies, exploring health education programs and acculturation to manage the statistical discrepancies and the illnesses by extension.
Background and Significance
Liver disease among Asian Americans remains a vital challenge to American healthcare worth exploring. Liver disease is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 2018 data indicates that chronic liver disease was the sixth leading cause of death among Asian Americans aged 25-44. It was the primary cause of death among individuals aged 65 and above. The data implies that the challenge is rooted in the ethnic group across all age groups. The mortality rate for liver disease among males from various Asian American subgroups stands at 9.3% for Japanese, 16.8% for Filipino, 23.3% for Chinese, 33.9% for Koreans, and 54.3% for Vietnamese (HHS). It is also worth remarking that Asian Americans are 70% more likely to die from liver and IBD cancer if compared to whites (Patel, Muller, & Paul, 2020). The statistics are mirrored among women where the liver disease prevalence is twice as high compared to Caucasian women. The statistics above are an indication that liver disease is a serious concern among Asian Americans.
Various reasons have been given to explain the high prevalence of liver disease among Asian Americans. First among the challenges is resources. Asian Americans manifest scarcity of resources necessary in dealing with liver disease. Studies indicate that whites are 70% more likely to be screened for liver disease compared to Asian Americans (Li et al., 2018). Partly, the challenge is on lack of financial resources or poor distribution of the screening services. Currently, Asian Americans are less likely to have job-based health insurance, ranking at 74% as opposed to their white counterparts, who are rated at 73% in job-based insurance. Asian Americans are also more likely to be uninsured, and they are rated at 21% as opposed to 14% for whites (Li et al., 2018). Without proper healthcare insurance policy in place, Asian Americans remain less likely to access healthcare services such as screening for liver disease if compared to their much-insured counterparts.
Health literacy is another factor worth exploring when it comes to addressing liver disease among Asian Americans. The lack of knowledge of healthcare information is reflected in their behaviors towards healthcare services (Philbin et al., 2012). Individuals from Asian American ethnic groups barely seek formal healthcare services. Only 28.5% of Asian Americans have had hepatitis B vaccination. That is a small number considering that 73.4% of California’s 7th graders have had that vaccination (Li et a., 2018). Limited knowledge about healthcare and illnesses is a significant fueling factor among Asian Americans.
Ultimately, Asian Americans’ socio-cultural behaviors contribute significantly to the spread of liver disease among members of that ethnic group. Behaviors are important factors when analyzing health disparity factors (Becerra et al., 2015). In some cases, it is the socio-cultural behaviors that make individuals susceptible to some illnesses. Among Asian Americans, alcohol abuse is a major concern. Alcohol use increased fivefold among Asian Americans between 1992 and 2002 with the numbers growing from 0.74 to 3.89.with an increase in population among Asian Americans, chances are high that the numbers are poised to increase even further (Cha-Nam, Keller, & Sim, 2018). Religion is another cultural prospect that has been cited as an impediment to healthy behaviors among Asian Americans. Only a few Asian Americans believe that they can receive healthcare services in the US without their religion mocked (Dong & Simon, 2018). While each group manifests unique religious circumstances, cultural biases rooted in religion limit Asian Americans’ chances of accessing healthcare services (Do & Nam, 2011). It is indicated that an Asian American is only likely to visit a healthcare facility once in 10 years under severe circumstances. As noted, delayed visits to healthcare facilities only enhance the deterioration of the conditions.
Innovative Strategies
Increasing Screening for Hepatitis B and C
An individual’s chances of contracting a liver disease or liver cancer increases when he/she is infected with hepatitis B and C viruses. Through treatment, one can slow hepatitis B and cure hepatitis C. However, many people do not know if they have viruses. Asian Americans are three times more likely to contract the viruses if compared to non-Hispanic whites. As such, Asian Americans stand a bigger chance of contracting liver disease. Nguyen et al. (2019) use their study titled “Comparing Ways to Increase Hepatitis B and C Screening among Asian Americans” to delve into various screening strategies for the viruses that could steer proper management of liver disease among Asian Americans.
Nguyen et al. (2019) employed a randomized controlled trial to arrive at the findings. The population sample in the study was 452 Asian American patients receiving care from 189 primary care providers. There were two comparators in the study. The first comparator was a provider notification about patients eligible for hepatitis B screening and a mobile app with data on hepatitis Band C for the patients. The second comparator was a controlled group with provider notification eligible for hepatitis B screening with general health information. The time frame for the study was a 3-month follow-up for primary outcomes.
Nguyen et al. (2019) notable outcomes between the test and controlled groups. The study indicated that patients with hepatitis app report talking to their doctors about hepatitis B and C as opposed to the quitter control group with general health application. The test group also says their doctors recommended testing and would get a test for hepatitis B and C. doctors are also more likely to order tests on patients who used the hepatitis app as opposed to those who used the general health app. From this study, doctors’ offices can consider using application software such as the hepatitis app study to enhance screening for hepatitis among Asian Americans and reduce their susceptibility to liver disease and liver cancer.
Emphasis on Health Literacy
One avenue of addressing liver disease problems among Asian Americans is by improving health literacy indices. In a study titled “Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health in Asian American Immigrants: Findings from a Population-Based Survey in California,” Lee et al. (2015) explore the prevalence and value of health literacy among minority groups in America. The study focuses on understanding that high health literacy indices impact health positively. People with an adequate understanding of their healthcare needs would seek services whenever necessary. The article argues that a lack of health literacy is a large contributor to the prevalence of some behaviors and illnesses. Behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse can be addressed by having advanced knowledge about their impacts. Similarly, knowledgeable people are more likely to seek screening services for their healthcare concerns. Unfortunately, minority g...