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What We Keep Hidden: Asian American Pacific Islander Women on Abortion and Contraception
Mon, August 11, 4:00 to 5:30pm, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Floor: Ballroom Level/Gold, Grand Ballroom BAbstract
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is essential to public health, yet access to care remains uneven, particularly for Asian American Pacific Islander women (AAPIW) due to cultural stigma and systemic barriers. This study explores how cultural beliefs and family dynamics influence AAPIW’s engagement with SRH services, with a specific focus on abortion and contraceptive access as forms of preventative care. Through a preliminary survey of over 40 participants, this research examined comfort levels and perceived stigma surrounding reproductive healthcare. These findings informed the design of focus groups of AAPIW and provider interviews, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of both patient and provider perspectives.
Existing literature highlights that traditional cultural norms often discourage open discussions and proper education about contraception and abortion, shaping decision-making processes and reinforcing cycles of unmet SRH needs. Additionally, many AAPIW and their families maintain strong ties to traditional medicine, which may serve as an alternative to mainstream reproductive healthcare but lacks emphasis on preventative care. This study also investigates how intergenerational attitudes towards SRH evolve and how immigrant communities sometimes preserve more conservative beliefs about reproductive care compared to their countries of origin.
By examining these themes, this research identifies key barriers preventing AAPIW from seeking essential SRH services and highlights strategies to improve access. The findings suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers must adopt culturally responsive approaches to SRH services, ones that integrate traditional values with modern medical practices while actively working to reduce stigma. Ultimately, this study aims to inform policy recommendations and healthcare strategies that ensure reproductive healthcare is both accessible and acceptable to AAPIW.