142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Family Health History and Childbearing Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study of Chinese-Americans' Views

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Qian Ji, M.S., C.H.E.S. , Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Shixi Zhao, B.S. , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Mei Zhao, Ph.D. , Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
Divya Talwar, M.P.H. , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Lei-Shih Chen, Ph.D., P.T., C.H.E.S. , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Background: According to previous literature, childbearing decisions can be affected by the individual’s perception of family health history (FHH). Yet, there is a paucity of information regarding the attitude towards FHH among the Asians– the fastest growing population in the U.S. We conducted a qualitative study to bridge this gap by examining FHH and the resulting childbearing decision-making among Chinese-Americans (the largest Asian subgroup). 

Methods: In a community-based study setting, our team interviewed 49 Chinese-American participants in-depth. Utilizing the content analysis approach, the interview data was discussed and coded into themes.    

Results: About sixty-three percent of our participants reported that their spouses’ adverse FHH would have a harmful influence on their childbearing decision-making. Various factors were associated with their beliefs, including the concerns of their quality of life (once the children developed FHH-related diseases) and worry that their child might develop chronic or severe diseases (e.g., heart disease, mental disorders, cancer) in the future. Moreover, fifty seven percent of the sample thought that their own adverse FHH might negatively affect their spouses’ childbearing decisions. 

Conclusions: More than half of Chinese-American participants believed that adverse FHH would have a harmful impact on their childbearing decision-making. As leading public health agencies like CDC are promoting the use of FHH among minority population, it is important to consider the views towards FHH among Chinese Americans. It is recommended that FHH education programs be developed that specifically target the Chinese-American population. 

Key words: Childbearing, Family Health History, Chinese-American.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Explain the importance of the implication of adverse family health history and childbearing decision-making in Chinese Americans in the U.S. Discuss the spouses’/partners’ perceptions and beliefs regarding adverse FHH among Chinese Americans.

Keyword(s): Asian Americans, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a second year PhD student at the department of Health and kinesiology, Texas A&M University. My research areas are health education, public health genomics, and cancer prevention and control. I have been taken genomic courses with Dr. Chen who is currently the director of the Health Promotion and Genomics Lab under out department and involved in the research on family health history, reproductive-decision making, and Chinese Americans.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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