dr. ronald e. mcnair acknowledgements - University of St. Thomas

ABSTRACT
This research discusses healthcare accessibility issues among the Hmong ethnic group in
the Twin Cities metropolitan area located in Minnesota. Research was based on the
geographical access to healthcare in the Hmong community. Through the Geographical
Information System (GIS), I predict that the Twin Cities’ Hmong community lacks
access to healthcare. The Hmong community, when mapped, was concentrated in two
particular locations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The use of GIS helped to project
statistical analysis of different aspects concerning healthcare such as healthcare facilities,
healthy and affordable food, and public transportation. These were analyzed by mapping
their distances from the Hmong community. Statistical analysis was examined by scatter
plots where the correlation between the Hmong community and where healthcare, food
sources, and public transportation was located were weak. Statistical analysis showed
that the Hmong community of the Twin Cities metropolitan area is centrally located.
Given the study area at the scaled researched (1km), the Hmong were not especially
isolated from healthcare, food, and public transportation. This showed that this
community is isolated but isolation is not a major factor shaping healthcare outcomes.
Other factors may contribute to the limitations in this community, such as cultural and
language barriers and health literacy.
INTRODUCTION
The Hmong, an ethnic group from Asia, sought refuge in many nations,
including the United States of America, beginning in the late 1970s. Although
their origin is debatable because of their nomadic culture, history of wars,
persecution, and acculturation, they are thought to come from China. From
China, the Hmong settled in Southeast Asian counties such as Laos, Thailand,
Vietnam, and Burma. The U.S. arrived in Laos to defend the Laotian people
from Vietnamese Communists, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
recruited the Hmong in Laos to fight alongside them. This was known as the
Secret War of Laos. The U.S. fled Asia in 1975 resulting in Hmong persecution
by the Laotian government. Many Hmong fled to Thailand by crossing the
Mekong River, settling among many refugee camps. From these refugee camps,
the Hmong people moved to many parts of the world, including the United
States. Today, the largest population of the Hmong outside of Asia is in
California, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The Hmong people are a unique community due to their different culture,
religion, and healthcare practices. One ongoing challenge of the Hmong
community is providing culturally acceptable healthcare while trying to reach
the goal of respecting the Hmong culture and also providing quality
healthcare. 1 Many Hmong in America still resort to herbal medicine and
religious healing (shamanism), especially the elderly. Other Hmong individuals
are still uncertain of Western health practices and the effects of living and
eating Western food. In addition to healthcare concerns, the aspect of food in
Hmong culture is very different. A study done by Franzen and Smith in
Minnesota showed that Hmong individuals who are American-born and/or
were raised in the U.S. have higher dietary acculturation than those born in
HEALTHCARE
ACCESSIBILITY IN
THE TWIN CITIES
METROPOLITAN AREA
HMONG COMMUNITY
Chia Lee ’13
University of St. Thomas
Mentor
Paul Lorah, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of
Geography
University of St. Thomas
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