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Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Health
How Being Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Can Affect Your Health
Every racial or ethnic group has specific health concerns. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity. This group is also at higher risk for cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke and diabetes. Learn about issues that affect Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Woman sitting on a kikau (coconut frond mat) making a tivaevae (quilt). She has a siamese cat on her lap.
Image by John Colles Burland
Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Subjective Cognitive Decline
Document by CDC
Every racial or ethnic group has specific health concerns. Differences in the health of groups can result from:
On this page, you'll find health issues that affect Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Source: MedlinePlus
Clinical Trial Diversity
Image by FDA
Clinical trials are research studies involving human volunteers to evaluate medical products like medications, vaccines, or devices for safety and effectiveness. These studies may also show which medical products or therapies work best for people with certain illnesses or for certain groups of people. Ensuring people from diverse backgrounds join clinical trials is key to advancing health equity.
Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will use the medical products. This is often not the case—people from racial and ethnic minority and other diverse groups are underrepresented in clinical research. This is a concern because people of different ages, races, and ethnicities may react differently to medical products. To achieve health equity so all can benefit from clinical trials, we are committed to taking steps to change this.
Joining a clinical trial might be a good choice for you if:
Source: FDA Consumer Health Information
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students
Image by CDC
Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of a disease and the related adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups. These groups may be characterized by gender, age, race or ethnicity, education, income, social class, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation. These health disparities are one reason why HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB take a greater toll in one population group over another. Find information about how these diseases affect Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations.
In 2018, adult and adolescent Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders rates of HIV diagnoses per 100,000 population in the United States for both males (25.3) and females (2.1) exceeded their White counterparts (males 9.6, females 1.7).
Chlamydia
In 2018, the rate of reported chlamydia cases among NHOPI was 700.8 cases per 100,000 population. The overall rate of reported chlamydia cases among NHOPI was 3.3 times the rate among Whites and 5.3 times the rate among Asians.
Gonorrhea
In 2018, the rate of reported gonorrhea cases among NHOPI (181.4 cases per 100,000 population) was 2.6 times the rate among Whites. This disparity was similar for NHOPI females (2.6 times the rate among White females) and NHOPI males (2.5 times the rate among White males). The disparity in gonorrhea rates for NHOPI in 2018 was higher in the Midwest than in the West, Northeast, and South.
Primary and Secondary Syphilis
In 2018, the rate of reported P&S syphilis cases among NHOPI was 2.7 times the rate among Whites (16.3 versus 6.0 cases per 100,000 population, respectively). This disparity was greater for NHOPI males (2.8 times the rate among White males) than NHOPI females (1.9 times the rate among White females).
In 2018, 87% of all reported TB cases occurred in racial and ethnic minorities. TB disease was reported in 117 Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders in the United States, accounting for 1.3% of all people reported with TB nationally. The rate of TB disease in Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders is 20 cases per 100,000 population, which is 40 times higher than the rate of TB disease in non-Hispanic whites (0.5 cases per 100,000 population). Overall, 9,025 TB cases were reported to CDC from the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2018.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Risk Factors
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart disease refers to several conditions that affect the heart. In the United States, it affects more than 1 in 10 adults (30 million) and is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups (responsible for about 1 in 4 deaths).
Heart disease may not be diagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. These symptoms may include:
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of all adults in the United States have at least one of these risk factors. Other medical conditions and health behaviors that put you at higher risk are:
Your risk for heart disease increases as you age and if you have a history of heart disease in your family.
Your health care provider may prescribe one or more FDA-approved medications to treat your heart disease or its risk factors. Some types of heart disease are also treated with medical devices such as pacemakers (implanted in the body to regulate the heart rate) or stents (metal tubes that are inserted in an artery to improve blood flow). Your health care provider will work with you to determine which treatment is the best option for your condition.
Participating in a cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program after having a heart attack, heart failure, or some type of heart surgery is important for recovery. Supervised by a team of health care professionals, this program may include:
Source: FDA Consumer Health Information
A lesson on Hepatitis B
Image by CDC
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B can be an acute, short-term infection or a chronic, long-lasting infection. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up over half of the people in the United States living with chronic hepatitis B. African Americans have the second-highest rate of chronic hepatitis B. If you are living with chronic hepatitis B, talk to your health care provider about starting a treatment regimen.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes inflammation of the liver. It is spread by:
Hepatitis B infection may be acute (short term) or chronic (long term).
Acute HBV symptoms can last from a few weeks to up to six months and may include:
Chronic HBV infection occurs when the virus remains in a person’s body. People living with chronic HBV can spread the virus to others, even if they do not feel or look sick themselves. Over time, chronic HBV can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer, or even death.
Know Your Status
If you think you’ve been exposed to HBV, ask your health care provider to get tested. Blood tests can determine whether a person was infected in the past, is currently infected, or has never been infected.
People living with chronic hepatitis B should be monitored regularly by their health care provider for signs of liver disease and evaluated for possible treatment. There are three types of treatment options for chronic HBV.
Source: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
HIV and AIDS: What’s the difference?
Image by National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Although Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) account for a very small percentage of new HIV diagnoses, HIV affects NHOPI in ways that are not always apparent because of their small population sizes. In 2016, NHOPI made up 0.2% of the US population.
In 2016:
From 2011 to 2015, HIV diagnoses:
Some behaviors put everyone at risk for HIV, including NHOPI. These behaviors include having vaginal or anal sex without a condom or without medicines to prevent or treat HIV, sharing injection drug equipment with someone who has HIV, or lack of awareness of HIV status. People who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may unknowingly pass HIV to others. Factors that particularly affect NHOPI include:
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Immunization
Image by EpicTop10.com
Immunization happens when a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. Getting vaccinated is one of the safest and most effective ways of preventing infectious diseases.
When disease-causing viruses or bacteria (germs) invade the body, our immune systems are activated to attack them. Vaccines work by mimicking these germs so that if you are exposed to the real germ, your immune system is prepared to respond quickly.
Vaccines contain dead and weakened forms of germs or small pieces of germs. Others contain genetic instructions for immune cells to identify germs. Since vaccines do not contain germs in disease-causing forms, they will not give you the disease they are designed to prevent.
Most vaccines are given as an injection (shot). Side effects are usually mild, such as redness or soreness where the shot was given or a low-grade fever.
Getting vaccinated is one of the most effective ways of preventing infectious diseases, disabilities, and deaths. In the United States, routine childhood vaccines prevent many diseases, and immunization has reduced the occurrence of most vaccine-preventable diseases by over 95%.
Adults need vaccines too, even if you got all your childhood shots. The protection for some shots can wear off over time, and as you get older you may be at risk for diseases like shingles. All adults should get a yearly flu shot and other vaccines based on age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions.
Getting vaccinated also helps decrease the spread of diseases to other people. When enough people are vaccinated against a disease, it is more difficult for that disease to spread and cause an outbreak. People with serious allergies or weakened immune systems who can’t get vaccinated will also gain some protection from getting sick (known as community or herd immunity).
Vaccines are one of the safest ways to protect against many infections. Every vaccine is safety tested before it’s approved by the FDA and recommended for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine manufacturers test each vaccine lot for identity, purity, strength, and sterility before they are released for use. The FDA and the CDC also monitor the safety of vaccines in infants, children, and adults after they come to market.
In the event of a public health emergency, the FDA may issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to facilitate the availability and the use of a vaccine. An EUA requires an FDA review of data on the quality and consistency of the vaccine product and a review of data collected from studies with people who volunteer to take the vaccine.
Source: FDA Consumer Health Information
Tending to Mental Health
Image by j4p4n
Mental health matters! Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is just as important as physical health at all stages of life. Mental health issues are common – about 1 in 5 American adults experiences a mental illness each year. Mental health issues are treatable and often preventable. However, people in some racial and ethnic minority groups face obstacles to maintaining positive mental health.
The mental health of some racial and ethnic minority groups has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic relative to that of non-Hispanic white people.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for everyone, and racial and ethnic minority groups have been placed at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 severe illness or death, and pandemic-related stressors. These stressors, such as unemployment, loss of a loved one, and COVID-19 stigma, can cause emotional distress and may lead to new or worsening mental health issues. Mental health issues may increase when people face additional stressors, on top of those related to COVID-19, and lack access to the resources and support needed to navigate these challenges.
Mental health care is important for mental wellbeing, yet many people from racial and ethnic minority groups face obstacles in accessing needed care. These obstacles may include lack of or insufficient health insurance, lack of racial and ethnic diversity among mental healthcare providers, lack of culturally competent providers, financial strain, and stigma.
Racism negatively impacts mental health. Racism contributes to unequal access to resources and services, including mental health care. First-hand experiences of racial discrimination, as well as witnessing or hearing about discrimination from others or in the media, can cause or intensify stress and racial trauma.
All of society benefits when people from racial and ethnic minority groups have access to mental health care, supportive social conditions, freedom from stressors that can compromise mental health, and access to other resources needed for health. We all have a role to play in promoting health equity.
Individuals can
Mental health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their highest level of mental health and emotional well-being.
Public health organizations can
Healthcare systems can
States and communities can
CDC is collaborating with partners to improve mental health among racial and ethnic minority groups by
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander People and Commercial Tobacco: Health Disparities and Ways to Advance Health Equity
Image by CDC
Data are for the U.S.
Source: Births: Final Data for 2020 [PDF – 1 MB]
Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2021
Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2020) via CDC WONDER
Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality data (2020) via CDC WONDER
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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