Data From the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey

Chartbook on Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014

Objectives
The body of nationally representative health statistics for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population is limited, because even the largest health surveys generally do not have an adequate NHPI sample to calculate reliable NHPI statistics. Using data from the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey (NHPI NHIS) from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), this report fills this gap by presenting statistics on health conditions and behaviors for (a) the total NHPI population and the multiple- and single race NHPI populations, in comparison with other federal race groups and the total U.S. population; (b) single-race NHPI persons compared with multiple-race NHPI persons; and (c) detailed NHPI race groups in comparison with each other and the total U.S. population.

Methods
The NHPI statistics were calculated using 2014 NHPI NHIS data, while the other race group statistics were calculated using 2014 data from NCHS’ annual National Health Interview Survey.

Results
Compared with Asian adults, NHPI adults had higher rates of a range of health conditions, including lower back pain, serious psychological distress, asthma, and cancer. The prevalence of some health conditions, including cancer, ulcers, and diabetes, did not differ significantly between NHPI and black adults. Samoan adults were more likely than Native Hawaiian and Guamanian or Chamorro adults to have lower back pain and any physical difficulty, and they were less likely to have a healthy body weight. Native Hawaiian adults were more likely than Pacific Islander adults to have asthma. Single-race NHPI adults had higher rates of diabetes and were more likely to report at least 1 heavy drinking day in the past year, but they were less likely to have asthma, compared with multiple-race NHPI adults.

Read the entire report here.