George Washington University Assesses Asian Health Needs In The D.C. Area

 In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, The George Washington University, School of Public Health & Health Services releases "SAHNA 2010: A South Asian Health Needs Assessment of the Washington, D.C. Region". This report is the first study of this magnitude in the Washington, D.C. area to assess the health needs of a growing and diverse minority population.
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is the 5th largest city with a South Asian population, yet little attention has been given to better understand and address the health and well-being of this community. Project SAHNA is a collaborative research project at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services, led by faculty, students, and alumni committed to addressing health issues among South Asians in the United States. “SAHNA 2010 provides critical insight into a minority group that has often been neglected and underrepresented in public health research. The findings in this report provide a foundation for future research and programmatic efforts,” said Dr.Vyas, the lead study author.
Project SAHNA recruited 700 adult participants from the Washington, D.C. region for a survey that assessed perceptions of health, sources of health information, health care access and utilization, and health risk behaviors.
To view the full report, please see: http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/pch/mch/download/Sahna.PDF

About The George Washington University Medical Center
The George Washington University Medical Center is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary academic health center that has consistently provided high-quality medical care in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area since 1824. The Medical Center comprises the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the 11th oldest medical school in the country; the School of Public Health and Health Services, the only such school in the nation’s capital; GW Hospital, jointly owned and operated by a partnership between The George Washington University and a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc.; and The GW Medical Faculty Associates, an independent medical practice with nearly 550 physicians in 47 clinical specialties. For more information on GWUMC, visit www.gwumc.edu.

For more information on Project SAHNA, please visit: http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/pch/mch/sahna.cfm
General Information: sahnadc@gmail.com
Media Inquiries: avyas@gwu.edu

Contact Information:
Amita N. Vyas, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director, Maternal & Child Health Program
Department of Prevention and Community Health
The George Washington University
School of Public Health & Health Services
Email: avyas@gwu.edu

Nitasha Chaudhary, MPH
South Asian Public Health Association, Co-Chair
Email: nitasha.chaudhary@gmail.com

Kalpana Ramiah, DrPH, MPH, MSc
Research Scientist
Deputy Director, WW SCRIPT Project
Department of Prevention and Community Health
The George Washington University
School of Public Health & Health Services
Email: Kramiah@gmail.com 

Source: George Washington University