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The Banglatown area of Hamtramck, Michigan is home to Bangladeshi Americans (26% of the population) and has a 49.1% poverty rate. There are no supermarkets in Hamtramck; however, there are many small food stores. The NEMS-CS tool was used to assess 21 food stores. Of the stores surveyed, 33% of offered 3 or more fruits and vegetables. Thirty-six percent offered brown rice and almost half offered dried legumes. Stores scored poorly on all three categories included in the NEMS-CS score: availability, quality, price. Results of the study contribute to the knowledge base about healthy food availability in urban Bangladeshi communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As COVID-19 vaccines are readily available and most U.S. adults who are enthusiastic about the vaccine have received it, motivating those who have not been vaccinated to accept it has become a challenge. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms behind COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Asian American ethnic groups, including how sociodemographic characteristics and racism predict COVID-19 and vaccine perceptions. The study also examined associations between social vulnerability and COVID-19 and vaccine perceptions. Social vulnerability is defined as the degree to which a community is able to prepare and respond to a natural or man-made disaster. This cross-sectional study used community-based survey data collected from April to September 2021. Study measures included demographics, perceptions of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, and racism-related experiences. The results showed that, compared to Non-Asians, East Asians reported that they had significantly more challenges accessing COVID-19 vaccines, and South Asians reported significantly higher safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Our study also found that racism experience mediates the association between race/ethnicity and safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Three Asian subgroups (East Asians, South Asians, and Southeast Asians) experienced more racism (compared to Non-Asians), and more experience of racism was related to greater safety concerns. Geographical Information System (GIS) maps revealed that residents of lower social vulnerability index (SVI) areas reported fewer unfairness perceptions and that higher SVI areas had lower vaccine accessibility and trust in public health agencies. Our study advances the understanding of racism, social vulnerability, and COVID-19 vaccine-related perceptions among Asian Americans. The findings have implications for policymakers and community leaders with respect to tailoring COVID-19 program efforts for socially vulnerable populations and Asian American groups that experience greater challenges regarding vaccine safety concerns and accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian Americans are at increased risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Asian Americans in the United States is 16.7% compared to 11.3% among the general U.S. population. Genetic factors such as higher body fat and lower muscle mass result in a predisposition for the development of diabetes at a lower body mass index (BMI). Social determinants including food insecurity and physical environment may also impact risk and need further examination. This study investigated type 2 diabetes–related indicators and food insecurity and satisfaction with types and quality of foods provided through food box distributions with a focus on Asian American populations in Michigan. Data were collected via a survey implemented in partnership with community organizations that administer food box distributions. Nearly half of respondents were not aware that Asian Americans are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The mean BMI for overall study participants was 25.6, and 61.8 % of participants had a BMI of ≥23. Food insecurity was also negatively associated with BMI with study participants who were overweight reporting less food insecurity. Overall, participants reported being satisfied with both the types and quality of foods provided in the food boxes. Findings support the need for increased diabetes education and testing among Asian Americans and assessment of the types of culturally relevant foods offered by food distribution organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asians are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the United States, and in Michigan, Asians represent 3.4% of the state's population. Asians have long been aggregated as a homogeneous group and stereotyped as a "model minority." Asians, however, are very diverse, and each subgroup has different values, histories, beliefs, and dialects. The diversity among populations and variations in chronic disease risks demonstrate the importance of disaggregating Asian American ethnicities with respect to health promotion, which must be culturally and linguistically tailored to make the biggest impact. This article describes our challenges and successes in health communication messaging with Asian Americans during the 4 years of our Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Cooperative Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]