Invisibility as a structural determinant: Mortality outcomes of Asians and Pacific Islanders experiencing homelessness
Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) who are experiencing homelessness are situated in a social intersection that has rendered them unrecognized and therefore vulnerable. There has been increasing attention to racial disparities in homelessness, but research into API homelessness is exceedingly rare,...
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Published in: | Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 969288 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Switzerland
Frontiers Media S.A
06-01-2023
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) who are experiencing homelessness are situated in a social intersection that has rendered them unrecognized and therefore vulnerable. There has been increasing attention to racial disparities in homelessness, but research into API homelessness is exceedingly rare, despite rapidly growing populations. The purpose of this study is to examine the causes of death among APIs who died while homeless in Santa Clara County (SCC) and compare these causes to other racial groups.
We report on data obtained from the SCC Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office on unhoused people's deaths that occurred between 2011 and 2021 (
= 1,394), including data on deaths of APIs experiencing homelessness (
= 87).
APIs comprised 6.2% of total deaths of unhoused people. APIs died less often of causes related to drug/alcohol use than all other racial groups (24.1, compared to 39.3%), and there was a trend toward more API deaths from injuries or illnesses. When APIs were disaggregated into sub-groups (East/Southeast Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander), there were notable mortality differences in cause of death, age, and sex.
We argue that invisibility is a structural determinant of health that homeless APIs face. Though relatively small in numbers, APIs who are invisible may experience increased social isolation and, subsequently, specific increased mortality risks. To understand the health outcomes of unhoused APIs, it is essential that researchers and policymakers recognize API homelessness and gather and report disaggregated races and ethnicities. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Reviewed by: Jo-Hanna H. Ivers, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Ivana Kulhánová, Charles University, Czechia These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship Edited by: Anne Saw, DePaul University, United States This article was submitted to Public Health Education and Promotion, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health |
ISSN: | 2296-2565 2296-2565 |
DOI: | 10.3389/fpubh.2022.969288 |