Regular Physician Access and Obesity Status Among Underserved Asian and Pacific Islander American Immigrants in Los Angeles.

Yang, Hong-Ho; Dhanjani, Suraj A.; Chwa, Won Jong; Wells, Christine R.; Huynh, Jeffrey Do; Vo, Linh N.; Chou, Heather N.; Cowgill, Burton

According to prior research, Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) immigrants often refrain from seeking health care unless necessitated by medical conditions. Utilizing data from health screenings conducted in APIA immigrant enclaves in Los Angeles, we hypothesize that poorer obesity status would predict higher rates of regular physician access. Analyses involved objectively measured percent body fat (�) and survey responses collected between 2011 and 2019. We assessed the association between obesity status and regular physician access, adjusting for insurance status, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. The study population (n = 4102) primarily consisted low-income, low English proficiency APIAs. Participants with a regular physician were significantly more likely to be obese compared to participants without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.28). This association may suggest that care was sought reactively rather than proactively within this community. Interventions with emphasis on cultural competency and language services may encourage preventative care utilization among this understudied community.

CALIFORNIA; PREVENTION of obesity; HEALTH services accessibility; IMMIGRANTS; COMMUNICATIVE competence; MEDICAL care use; ASIAN Americans; ADIPOSE tissues; KOREAN Americans; CULTURAL competence; LOGISTIC regression analysis; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHINESE Americans; PACIFIC Islander Americans; SURVEYS; THAI people; ODDS ratio; PHYSICIANS; ENGLISH language; DATA analysis software; CONFIDENCE intervals; MEDICAL screening; POVERTY; PREVENTIVE health services; COMMUNICATION barriers

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2024, Vol 36, Issue 6/7, p610

1010-5395

Academic Journal

10.1177/10105395241260970