Addressing Health Disparities and Health Literacy Challenges in the South Asian Community: Conference (October 9, 2010) summary report and recommendations

This report summarizes all plenary and workshop sessions from a conference on "Addressing Health Disparities and Health Literacy Challenges in the South Asian Community."

South Asians are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the nation having doubled their population in 2000 to 2.7 million. Considerable evidence exists that South Asians are burdened by significant morbidity and mortality associated with chronic and costly diseases (cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes and infectious diseases). Little is known about how genetics, diet, exercise and cultural practices affect risk factors for these chronic diseases or whether adequate treatment for these disorders is received.  

The report makes recommendations relating to policy planning and resource development, data collection and research, community education and professional training, and networking and partnerships. It also provides recommendations that aim to address disparities in health and healthcare, improve health outcomes and potentially reduce the costs associated with health disparities and health literacy challenges in the growing South Asian population.  

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