Experience of South and Southeast Asian minority women in Hong Kong during COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

International Journal for Equity in Health

Research

Gary Ka-Ki Chung¹  Yat-Hang Chan¹  Eric Lai¹  Jean Woo²  Michael Marmot³  Hung Wong⁴  Siu-Ming Chan⁵  Eng Kiong Yeoh⁶  Roger Yat-Nork Chung⁷  Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong⁸  Tobey Tsz-Yan Lee⁹ 

[1] CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL Institute of Health Equity, University College London, London, United Kingdom;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Centre for Bioethics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;

关键词: Ethnic minority;    South Asians;    Southeast Asians;    Women;    COVID-19;    Health;    Low incidence rate;    Hong Kong;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12939-023-01922-6

 received in 2022-07-13, accepted in 2023-05-22,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHong Kong has a relatively low incidence rate of COVID-19 across the globe. Nevertheless, ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, especially South Asians (SAs) and Southeast Asians (SEAs), face numerous physical, mental, social, economic, cultural and religious challenges during the pandemic. This study explores the experiences of SA and SEA women in a predominantly Chinese metropolitan city.MethodsTen SA and SEA women were recruited and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Questions about participants’ daily life experience, physical and mental health conditions, economic situation and social interaction amid COVID-19 pandemic were asked to assess the impact of COVID-19.ResultsSAs and SEAs have a distinctive family culture, and women experienced significant physical and mental impact of COVID-19 due to their unique gender role in the family. In addition to taking care of their family in Hong Kong, SA and SEA women also had to mentally and financially support family members residing in their home countries. Access to COVID-related information was restricted due to language barrier. Public health measures including social distancing imposed extra burden on ethnic minorities with limited social and religious support.ConclusionsEven when COVID-19 incidence rate is relatively low in Hong Kong, the pandemic made life even more challenging for SAs and SEAs, which is a community already struggling with language barriers, financial woes, and discrimination. This in turn could have led to greater health inequalities. Government and civil organizations should take the social determinants of health inequalities into account when implementing COVID-19-related public health policies and strategies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023