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Background: Although COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, vaccine hesitancy remains a primary barrier to attaining full population inoculation. Numerous factors related to vaccine hesitancy have been identified. The aim of this study was to explore associations between select demographic variables and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Asian Indians in the United States. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design. The sample consisted of 363 Asian Indians living in the United States who were 18 years of age or older and were literate in English. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed using an online survey. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. Inferential tests included t tests, regression analyses, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Results: As participant age increased, there was a statistically significant proportionate increase in the total vaccine hesitancy score (P = 0.01). There were also statistically significant differences in the vaccine hesitancy scores of participants with no more than a high school degree compared to those with associate or bachelor's degrees, although this finding was based on just six participants. Although most participants had already been vaccinated, many identified reasons for feeling some degree of vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: The reasons for vaccine hesitancy vary by individual and are often complex. The results of this study will help guide public health agencies and health care personnel in developing vaccination strategies tailored to the specific requirements of Asian Indians in the United States, which could reduce vaccine hesitancy in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review systematically examines the characteristics and effectiveness of randomized controlled trials with aerobic physical activity (PA) interventions tailored to South Asian Indians (SAIs). PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were searched. The search yielded 1,842 studies; 11 met the criteria. The Center for Evidence-Based Medicine's critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of studies. Studies that used supervised structured PA sessions, educational material in SAI languages, motivational strategies, and positive reinforcement for goal setting, reported significant improvement in PA (p <.05; Cohen's d ≤ 0.3 to >0.8). Future PA studies in India featuring SAIs would benefit from clinic-based one-on-one structured aerobic PA interventions. In contrast, SAI immigrants in Western countries would benefit from community-based structured aerobic PA interventions that are offered in groups and culturally adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striking racial/ethnic disparities exist in pregnancy outcomes among various racial/ethnic Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors associated with stillbirth in Asian-American women. Study design: We conducted this retrospective cohort study using the United States Birth and Fetal Death data files 2014–2017. We used the fetuses-at-risk approach to generate stillbirth trends by gestational age among Non-Hispanic (NH)-White and Asian-American births during the study period. We calculated the adjusted risk of stillbirth for Asian-Americans, overall, and for each Asian-American subgroup: Asian Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Filipinos, with NH-Whites as the referent category. Results: Of the 715,297 births that occurred among Asian-Americans during the study period, stillbirth incidence rate was 3.86 per 1000 births. From the gestational age of 20 weeks through 41 weeks, the stillbirth rates were consistently lower among Asian-Americans compared to NH-Whites. Stillbirth incidence ranged from a low rate of 2.6 per 1000 births in Koreans to as high as 5.3 per 1000 births in Filipinos. After adjusting for potentially confounding characteristics, Asian-Americans were about half as likely to experience stillbirth compared to NH-White mothers [adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.51–0.64]. This intrauterine survival advantage was evident in all Asian-American subgroups. Conclusion: The risk of stillbirth is twofold lower in Asian-Americans than in NH-Whites. It will be an important research agenda to determine reasons for the improved intrauterine survival among Asian-Americans in order to uncover clues for reducing the burden of stillbirth among other racial/ethnic minority women in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to calculate 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of birth weight for gestational age for the total US population and the Asian-American ethnicities. Using the US Natality data files for the years 1992–2020, estimated growth curves were determined across gestational ages and for each Asian American ethnic group—Chinese, Asian Indians, Japanese, Koreans, Filipino, and Vietnamese. Average weight at the 10th, 50th and 90th foetal growth percentiles by race/ethnicity and sex were calculated. Overall, for the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles, Asian American average birth weight was 18, 90 and 144 g lower than the national average, respectively. We also found that Asian Indians consistently had the lowest birthweight, while Koreans had the highest birthweight among Asian Americans. Updated racial/ethnic-specific weight percentiles by gestational age can be a useful reference for accurate small and large-for-gestational age classifications among different Asian American sub-populations. What is already known on this subject? Foetal growth is an important determinant of infants' immediate and long-term health outcomes and foetal growth reference curves have been developed to provide average birth weights for each week of gestation and identify growth-restricted as well as excess-weighing foetuses. What the results of this study add? Using the U.S. Natality data files for the years 1992–2020, estimated growth curves were determined across gestational ages and for each Asian American ethnic group—Chinese, Asian Indians, Japanese, Koreans, Filipino, and Vietnamese. Average weight at the 10th, 50th and 90th foetal growth percentiles by race/ethnicity and sex were calculated. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Updated racial/ethnic-specific weight percentiles by gestational age can be a useful reference for accurate small and large-for-gestational age classifications among different Asian American sub-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Asian Indians are among the fastest growing United States (US) ethnic subgroups. We characterized mortality trends for leading causes of death among foreign-born and US-born Asian Indians in the US between 2005–2017. Study design and setting: Using US standardized death certificate data, we examined leading causes of death in 73,470 Asian Indians and 20,496,189 non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) across age, gender, and nativity. For each cause, we report age-standardized mortality rates (AMR), longitudinal trends, and absolute percent change (APC). Results: We found that Asian Indians' leading causes of death were heart disease (28% mortality males; 24% females) and cancer (18% males; 22% females). Foreign-born Asian Indians had higher all-cause AMR compared to US-born (AMR 271 foreign-born, CI 263–280; 175.8 US-born, CI 140–221; p<0.05), while Asian Indian all-cause AMR was lower than that of NHWs (AMR 271 Indian, CI 263–278; 754.4 NHW, CI 753.3–755.5; p<0.05). All-cause AMR increased for foreign-born Asian Indians over time, while decreasing for US-born Asian Indians and NHWs. Conclusions: Foreign-born Asian Indians were 2.2 times more likely to die of heart disease and 1.6 times more likely to die of cancer. Asian Indian male AMR was 49% greater than female on average, although AMR was consistently lower for Asian Indians when compared to NHWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of various immigration statuses on the quality of life among Asian Indians in the United States. The 73 Asian Indians, born in India and residing in the U.S., who participated in the survey study, reported experiencing varied levels of quality of life depending on their immigration status. Mental health counselors working with immigrants, in particular, Asian Indian clients, will benefit from the findings that highlight the need for heightened awareness of immigration-related policies and its impact on their clients' immigration statuses, mental health and overall acculturation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acculturation theories and research find that both new culture acquisition and heritage culture attachment are associated with positive outcomes. However, gender-related analyses are rare. In this mixed-method study of 73 Asian Indian American women who were first- or second-generation immigrants from Kerala, India, those classified as behaviorally bicultural, assimilated, separated, or marginalized did not differ significantly in well-being. Being older and married was related to higher self-esteem; unmarried women reported more Kerala attitudinal marginalization. With age, marital status, immigrant generation, and both cultural behavioral orientations controlled, Kerala attitudinal marginalization (but not Anglo attitudinal marginalization) correlated moderately with both lower self-esteem and more severe depressive symptoms. Content analysis of open-ended question data suggested associations among more intricate and multifaceted acculturation processes and psychological well-being via the rewards and challenges the women described. Attaining the "best of both worlds" that some mentioned meant selective adoption and rejection of facets of each culture: family connectedness and control, freedom and moral decline, opportunity, and discrimination. For these women, status-related characteristics (being younger and single representing lower status), discrimination experiences, and attitudinal rejection of their heritage culture (although it accords women lower status than men) had negative psychological outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Asian Americans are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States, yet little is known about their functional mobility. To overcome such a gap, this study examined the association between demographic/economic characteristics and functional limitations for middle-aged and older Asian Indians, Chinese, and Filipinos. Method This study utilized microdata from the National Health Interview Survey pooled sample (2010–2016 IPUMS NHIS with a sample size of 6,767 Asians). Logit regressions were used to examine factors associated with functional limitations. Measures include age, gender, currently married, education (categorized as less than high school, high school, some college, college, advanced degree), birth and citizenship status, household income, home ownership, types of health insurance (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, private), and geographic region (i.e., Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). Results Chinese (odds ratio [OR] 0.57, p <.01) and Filipinos (OR 0.74, p <.05) had lower odds for any functional limitations relative to Asian Indians. Currently married and individuals with a higher income were also associated with reduced odds for limitations in the overall analysis. As for the subgroup analysis, there was a positive association between age and the presence of any functional limitations for Asian Indians (OR 1.05, p <.01), Chinese (OR 1.08, p <.01), and Filipinos (OR 1.03, p <.01). In terms of gender, Asian Indian men were less likely (OR 0.51, p <.01), whereas Filipino men were more likely to have limitations (OR 1.09, p <.05). Discussion Asian Indians appeared to have a poorer health profile for limitations in dressing, eating, walking, or working when compared with Chinese and Filipinos. A pronounced difference at older ages was also apparent for Asian Indians by gender and the likelihood of having any limitations increased much faster for Asian Indian women. For Chinese, there was a dramatic increase in functional limitations after age 75 (particularly for women) and the predicted probability for this subgroup approximated 20%. For Filipinos, men were more likely to have limitations. These findings raise interesting questions about the on-set of disability by age and gender for Asian subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is research on survivors of domestic violence in India and the United States (U.S.), little is known about the sociocultural factors related to domestic violence among Hindu Asian Indian immigrant women (AIIW) in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to a) test the feasibility of conducting domestic violence research among Hindu AIIW; b) investigate domestic violence prevalence and correlations with other characteristics; and c) test the cultural appropriateness of completed measures on social support, acculturation status, and domestic violence. Over 50% of respondents had experienced abuse, often perpetrated by family. Participants had high levels of social support and acculturation, regardless of their abuse status. Participants were receptive to this research, suggesting that domestic violence research among Hindu AIIW is feasible. High prevalence of violence among Hindu AIIW suggests they are at high risk for experiencing abuse; lack of variability in social support and acculturation scale responses suggest the need to further test instruments among Hindu AIIW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly educated Indian and Pakistani immigrants arrived in boomtown Houston in the 1960s and 1970s, readily securing employment as engineers or other white-collar professionals. At the same time, they faced racism in housing, the workplace, university campuses, and restaurants. Asians were "conditionally included"--that is, accepted for their economic value but often, socially outcast. The racial calculations made by Indian and Pakistani immigrants in a rapidly internationalizing city were fraught with contradictions. They sought places and spaces where they felt tolerated, even if not completely welcomed into the fold. At the same time, they wielded their class status and ethnicity as tools by which they could both distance themselves from other racialized minorities and attempt to bypass their own racialization altogether. The experiences of immigrants of color reveals the racial architecture--that is, those norms that upheld the structure of white privilege--of a changing American South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using publicly available data, this article aims to understand how immigration policies in Canada and the United States have affected the flow and utilization of highly‐skilled migrants from China and India. Reviewing existing literature on the policies about, and utilization of, human capital among highly‐skilled migrants, and describing the policy contexts in both receiving countries, we present detailed empirical evidence to show that in spite of their higher education attainment than the general population and the total foreign‐born population, China‐ and India‐born migrants are not immune from the brain waste phenomenon. This is especially so among the India‐born. We end the article with policy implications for both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence reveals various neighborhood conditions are associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is unknown, however, whether the effectiveness of diabetes prevention interventions is also influenced by neighborhood characteristics. The purpose of the current study is to examine the impact of neighborhood characteristics on the outcomes of a lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Year 2000 US Census Tract data were linked with those from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Diabetes Prevention Program (SDPI-DP), an evidence-based lifestyle intervention implemented in 36 AI/AN grantee sites across the US. A total of 3394 participants started the intervention between 01/01/2006 and 07/31/2009 and were followed by 07/31/2016. In 2016-2017, data analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships of neighborhood characteristics with intervention outcomes, controlling for individual level socioeconomic status. AI/ANs from sites located in neighborhoods with higher median household income had 38% lower risk of developing diabetes than those from sites with lower neighborhood income (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.90). Further, those from sites with higher neighborhood concentrations of AI/ANs achieved less BMI reduction and physical activity increase. Meanwhile, participants from sites with higher neighborhood level of vehicle occupancy made more improvement in BMI and diet. Lifestyle intervention effectiveness was not optimal when the intervention was implemented at sites with disadvantaged neighborhood characteristics. Meaningful improvements in socioeconomic and other neighborhood disadvantages of vulnerable populations could be important in stemming the global epidemic of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘High skilled’ Kamma migrants from Coastal Andhra domiciled in the USA maintain strong ties with their villages and towns of origin. Since the 1990s, one key way in which they have sustained relations with their roots is through transnational philanthropy. Over the last two decades, migrant donors have diversified the modalities of their philanthropic engagements, increasingly institutionalizing them through US-based transnational associations. While the institutionalization of philanthropy may appear to be an import from the USA, closer examination reveals its historical antecedent in the caste-based Varaalu system practised by the Kammas during the late colonial period. The transnationalization of older forms of giving are marked by key modifications in the way giving is conceptualized—from being localized, need based, and individualized to being based on merit, efficiency, and professionalization. The term ‘donation’ is used to describe their philanthropy, rather than daan or charity, and the politics of semantics points to the modernizing impulse within the community to transcend caste owing to their diasporic location. Yet, by aiming to reach deserving beneficiaries while upholding meritocracy, donors often circulate philanthropic resources horizontally on a caste inflected and highly politicized transnational plane. The discourse and practices of transnational giving in post-reform India bring out the contradiction that simultaneously obscures the workings of a caste while transnationalizing its boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines identity construction among first-generation Asian Indian immigrants who reside in the Southern Plains region of the United States. Employing structural ritualization theory this study focuses on how three types of ritualized behaviors - regional-ethnic, pan-ethnic, and host - play a crucial role in constructing “multi-ritual” ethnic identity of Indian immigrants. In determining the rank or overall importance of ritualized symbolic practices (RSPs) we argue that the higher the rank of a practice, the greater its impact on the cognitions and behaviors of immigrants. The results of this qualitative study indicate that in the process of ethnic identity formation, Indian immigrants negotiate with their distinctive pan-Indian RSPs, retain and alter their regional-Indian RSPs, and bring their ethnicity into the mainstream society. This study contributes to the micro-sociological analysis of ethnic identity and enhances our empirical understanding of an understudied Asian Indian immigrant community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To determine whether a greater proportion of fetuses in an Asian Indian cohort are classified as small for gestational age than would be expected from a normally distributed population.Methods: A retrospective analysis of fetal growth pattern and neonatal outcome was conducted among Asian Indian women who were referred to a maternal-fetal medicine center in Park Ridge, IL, USA, for evaluation of fetal growth between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013. The primary outcome was an abdominal circumference or estimated weight of lower than the 10th percentile for gestational age according to the Hadlock formula.Results: Overall, 207 women and 210 fetuses were included. Forty-eight (22.9%) fetuses had an abdominal circumference lower than the 10th percentile. The total number of neonates classified as small for gestational age at delivery was 22 (10.5%), a value indicative of a normally distributed population.Conclusion: Fetal size was smaller than expected among the present Asian Indian cohort, but most neonates were classified as appropriate for gestational age at birth. Population specific growth curves are needed to improve assessment of fetal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented which discusses the American television audience's reception to the African American musician and television (TV) actor of the TV program "Adventures in Music" John Roland Redd, who's stage name was Korla Pandit, during the Cold War. The role Pandit played as performing as a Hindu musician from India, including in regard to race, Pandit's musical genre referred to as Exotica and the exoticism, is discussed.

Focusing on second-generation Asian Indian youth in the United States this minority performance ethnography explores two issues: First, how second-generation Asian Indian youth's educational attainment works as a source of social production/reproduction for their parents and how it leads to upward mobility and upclassing. Second, to what extent academic achievement of the children of Indian immigrants is influenced by parental social and cultural capital. Due to their economic and academic success in the United States, Asian Indians and their children are described as "successful good minorities." In order to maintain their positive image and to ensure upward mobility, Asian Indian parents expect their children to excel academically and obtain high paying secure professions. They consider their children's education as an investment. Findings indicate that parental cultural and social capital plays a significant role in their children's academic achievement and future economic success. Data shows that in general Asian Indian youth with higher level of inherited cultural and social capital have higher levels of academic attainment. Professional Asian Indian immigrants with higher human capital view their children's success as a means to reproduce their socioeconomic status and to achieve political and social power in the dominant society. Parents with a lower level of human capital also viewed their children's success as a source of empowerment and upclassing. They had high expectations and aspirations for their children. They believe that their children's educational attainment will provide them with prestige and economic stability and will accelerate their movement to higher economic social class status. Thus, the academic achievement of second-generation Asian Indian students intercedes as an agent to maintain or improve their family's position in the class structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture serves as a guiding framework to parents while rearing their children. However, when parents immigrate from one culture to another, they have to negotiate the conflicting demands and values of the two cultures when making decisions about child rearing. The present study investigated various aspects of parenting demonstrated by first-generation Asian Indian immigrant parents of young children. The study aimed at understanding the relationship between acculturation and various parental and child characteristics such as parenting stress, perceived social support, reasons for migration, duration of stay in the USA, and child's age and gender. No significant correlations were found between acculturation (measured through ethnic society immersion – ESI and dominant society immersion – DSI), parental stress, and social support. Parental scores on ESI were associated with whether or not they had relatives residing in the USA, whether or not they had plans to go back to India, and the age and gender of their child. Parental scores on the DSI were associated with their age and duration of their residence in the USA. Limitations of the study and policy implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzes the expression of identities of first-generation (FG) immigrants from India in private and public spaces. Focusing on high-skill upwardly mobile professionals living in the Washington metropolitan area, the study found that despite “Indian” being a primary descriptor, these FG immigrants had developed hybrid identities that included Indian and American elements, considered themselves Westernized cosmopolitans prior to their arrival in the USA, and acculturated selectively in private and public spaces. Relatively privileged due to their socioeconomic class and anticipating little prejudice, these immigrants expected to navigate life in the receiving country with dexterity and ease by selectively expressing various aspects of their hybrid identities in different locales. Although not subjected to overt racism, they were surprised and distraught when confronted with slights that spoke of their separation from mainstream America in public and semi-public spaces, particularly when the marginalizing events occurred in spaces where they believed they belonged. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined the association of Asian Indians, Chinese and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) to multimorbidity. Conclusions Asian Indians and Chinese were associated with a lower prevalence of multimorbidity compared to NHWs after controlling for age, sex, and other risk factors. Although overall multimorbidity rates were lower, Asian Indians and Chinese were more likely to have high-cholesterol and hypertension, risk factors to heart disease and diabetes. [Extracted from the article]

Psychological distress (PD) is a presence of emotional suffering and a non-specific mental health state characterized by the presence of anxiety and depression. Results The study comprised 98% NHW and 2% AI; 19.9% of NHW and 11.0% AI reported moderate-severe PD. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Asians are the most rapidly growing minority population in the United States, yet coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment and outcomes among Asian subgroups remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed 772,882 patients receiving care from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation from 2006-2015 to determine whether CAD treatment and outcomes differ by race, including Asian subgroups, with adjustment for age, gender, household income and comorbidities. Results: Among the cohort, 219,150 patients were Asian (38.5% Asian Indian, 28.4% Chinese, 9.6% Filipino, 4.2% Japanese, 3.2% Korean, 2.1% Vietnamese, and 14.1% "Other Asian"). Among those who received angiogram, prevalence of CAD was highest among Asian Indian (81.3%), Chinese (83.3%), and Filipinos (82.4%). Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), Chinese were more likely to receive a stent (50.9% vs 60.8%, adj OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0 - 1.9], p = 0.005), while Filipinos were more likely to undergo CABG (6.9% vs 20.5%, adjusted OR 2.7 [CI 1.9 - 4.0], p <0.0001). After stenting, Chinese, Filipinos, and Japanese were more likely to be prescribed clopidogrel compared to NHW (86.2%, 83.0%, and 91.4% vs 74.5%, adj ORs 1.8 [CI 1.1 - 3.0], 1.9 [CI 1.0 - 3.4], and 4.4 [CI 1.0 - 18.7] respectively, p <0.0001) but there were no significant differences in prasugrel prescription by race. There were no significant differences by race in post-angiogram 1-year mortality, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or bleeding. However, Chinese and Asian Indians were more likely to be diagnosed with a myocardial infarction within 1 year following coronary angiography compared to NHW (15.6% and 17.4% vs 11.2%, adj ORs 1.5 [CI 1.0 - 2.2] and 1.7 [CI 1.2 - 2.3] respectively, p <0.0001, see Figure). Conclusions: Disaggregation reveals significant diversity in CAD treatments and outcomes by Asian subgroup, highlighting potential opportunities to meet the needs of growing Asian populations in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]