A debunking of the myth of healthy Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

PURPOSE: To present evidence that the model of healthy Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) stereotype is a myth. SEARCH METHOD: The authors retrieved literature from the National Library of Medicine's compact disk databases (Cancerlit, CINAHL, Health, and MEDLINE), and examined pertinent federal government publications supplemented by the authors' knowledge of other published materials. IMPORTANT FINDINGS: This review paper presents three reasons why AAPIs are underserved: (1) the population growth rate has been unusually rapid and recent; (2) data regarding the health status of AAPIs are inadequate; and (3) the myth that AAPIs are model minority populations in terms of their health status was promulgated. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: The conclusions are as follows: (1) AAPIs are heterogenous with respect to demographic factors and health risk factors; (2) because the current databases on the health status of AAPIs include small sample sizes, both the quantity and quality of these data need to be improved with respect to appropriate gender and ethnic group representation; (3) Risk factor and mortality data for AAPIs suggest that the burden of certain preventable diseases, namely, tuberculosis, hepatitis-B, liver cancer, and lung cancer may be higher than those of any other racial and ethnic population. The model healthy AAPI stereotype is a myth.

Elective cesarean hysterectomy: a 5 year comparison with cesarean section.

Elective cesarean sections performed on the obstetric service at the University of Arkansas Medical Center were reviewed for the period January 1, 1970, through December 31, 1974. The purpose of the review was to compare operative and postoperative complications of cesarean section, cesarean section and tubal ligation, and cesarean section and elective hysterectomy. A total of 1,255 cesarean sections were performed of which 207 (17 per cent) were associated with tubal ligation and 242 (18 per cent) with hysterectomy. Elective cesarean hysterectomies were performed for elective sterilization (68 per cent), for medically indicated sterilizations (11 per cent), or for definitive treatment of uterine pathology(21 per cent). All cesarean sections were obstetrically indicated with the exception of 34 primary cesarean hysterectomies performed as definitive treatment of carcinoma in situ of the cervix. The operative procedures were compared in regard to the following characteristics or complications: operating time; incidence of blood transfusions, urinary tract injuries, postoperative bleeding, febrile morbidity, and other postoperative complications; and postoperative hospital days.