International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Nationality can be a health risk factor for people with Asian heritage, but genetic differences between groups are often not recognised, a study has claimed.

Research published in the American Journal of Health Behavior indicates that a failure to consider the specific cultural origins of Asian people living in the US may limit understanding of their medical needs.

In the US, such migrants are often categorised as simply being of Asian/Pacific origin, the study found, despite four billion people living across 47 countries on the continent – each with their own unique set of problems.

Emphasising this point, the journal explained that cervical cancer is four times more common among Vietnamese-American women than those with Chinese, Cambodian or Korean backgrounds, while Hepatitis B is six times more prevalent among Chinese-Americans.

Grace X Ma, a professor of public health in the US College of Health Professions and Social Work, said there is "an assumption" that Asians are at low risk for developing cancers due to the inclusion of more than 60 nationalities in one overarching category.

"It ultimately masks the significant cultural and health differences between these groups," she added.

Earlier this year, delegates at the eighth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues agreed that the South Asian region is failing on reproductive health access.