Chung, Roger Yat-Nork, Lee, Tobey Tsz-Yan, Chan, Siu-Ming, Chung, Gary Ka-Ki, Chan, Yat-Hang, Wong, Samuel Yeung-Shan, Lai, Eric 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1229-9471, Wong, Hung, Yeoh, Eng Kiong, Marmot, Michael et al (show 1 more authors)
(2023)
Experience of South and Southeast Asian minority women in Hong Kong during COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
International journal for equity in health, 22 (1).
p. 110.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Hong 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.<h4>Methods</h4>Ten 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.<h4>Results</h4>SAs 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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Even 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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Humans, Minority Groups, Hong Kong, Female, Pandemics, COVID-19, Southeast Asian People |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Jan 2024 10:15 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Jan 2024 10:15 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12939-023-01922-6 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01922-6 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178163 |
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