Handbook of Asian American Health by Grace J. Yoo, Mai-Nhung Le, Alan Y. Oda

Asian  Americans encounter a range of health issues often unknown to the  American public, policy makers, researchers and even clinicians.  National research often combines Asian Americans into a single category,  not taking into account the differences and complexity among Asian  ethnic subgroups. The definition of Asian American derives from the U.S.  Census Bureau's definition of Asian, which includes peoples from all  the vast territories of the Far East, Southeast Asia and the South Asian  Subcontinent. While Census classifications determine demographic  measurements that affect equal opportunity programs, the broad rubric  "Asian-American" can never describe accurately the more than 50 distinct  Asian American subgroups, who together comprise multifaceted diversity  across cultural ethnicities, socio-economic status, languages, religions  and generations. This volume rectifies that situation by exploring the  unique needs and health concerns of particular subgroups within the  Asian American community. It consolidates a wide range of knowledge on  various health issues impacting Asian Americans while also providing a  discussion into the cultural, social, and structural forces impacting  morbidity, mortality and quality of life. The volume is designed to  advance the understanding of Asian American health by explaining key  challenges and identifying emerging trends faced in specific ethnic  groups and diseases/illnesses, innovative community-based interventions  and the future needed areas of research.