There are major differences in health care status among different types of Asians and Latinos in California -- and yet the state so far has resisted treating those subgroups differently, according to UCLA researchers who released an updated version of health survey data last month.
"Data clearly show the need to disaggregate the Asian community and to some degree the Latino community," said David Grant, director of the California Health Interview Survey.
For instance, he said, the state categorizes "Asian" as an ethnic group, but there are major differences between various Asian subgroups, and a similar trend has developed among various Latino cultures, as well.
"Looking at different groups in the survey information busts a lot of myths," Grant said. "Most people think about Asians as having health insurance and doing well, but if you break out the subgroups, you see that Koreans have a high uninsured rate of about 47 percent. Also, obesity levels among Asians in general are lower than the state averages, but Filipinos have a higher rate [of obesity] and double the diabetes rate."
Similar disparities in care and health crop up in the Latino population, too. Different subgroups experience the health care system differently, he said, depending on country of origin.