Women’s Health

Objective: To review and summarize the evidence regarding the uptake of preventive health services among South Asian American (SAA) women, and delineate important health concerns for this population from adolescence through the reproductive years, into menopause, and during postmenopausal years. Key Findings: South Asian women have specific biological and cultural risk factors that should be considered by healthcare providers when caring for South Asian women born in the United States or abroad. Important health concerns involving SAA women include barriers to care, elevated metabolic risks, excess body fat in adolescents, and higher rates of polycystic ovarian disease and diabetes in reproductive-aged women. Additionally, certain cultural traditions have been found to lead to stigma and shame with regard to reproduction and sexuality. Recommendations: As a result of these findings, more culturally sensitive outreach and research are needed in order to understand the full impact of immigration and differences among the SAA population. There is also a need to identify best practices in the provision of health care as it relates to South Asian women.