Canada is home to almost 2.5 million people of South Asian descent, making up over 7% of the country’s diverse and vibrant population. South Asian women in Canada reflect a wide range of languages, religions, cultures and unique life experiences.
South Asia includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Many people of South Asian descent also have roots in African nations (e.g. Uganda, Kenya), the Caribbean (e.g. Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago) and many other places around the world (e.g. Fiji, Malaysia).
Why do South Asian women face unequal risks?
Several factors are known to impact heart and brain health for South Asian women. Some risks can be changed through physical activity, diet and lifestyle choices. Others, such as age, ethnicity, family history and genetics, cannot be changed.
On top of that, factors like where you’re born, employment and living conditions can also contribute to heart condition risks.
While some of these factors can affect everyone — like high blood pressure and cholesterol — others are unique to women, such as high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia).
Added difficulties like racism, discrimination, language barriers and lack of safe and culturally sensitive care can lead to challenging experiences and poorer health outcomes for South Asian women. These factors can prevent women from getting the care they need and discourage them from seeking support until it’s urgent. Navigating a new healthcare system can also be more challenging for newcomers compared to those whose families have lived in Canada for generations.
To better support the health of South Asian women in Canada, we need to do a better job of collecting race and ethnicity information to understand their unique needs and risks. This proactive approach will help us identify areas of improvement and ensure that the support provided is culturally appropriate, paving a way for a healthier future with and for South Asian women.
- People in Canada of South Asian descent are more than 1.5X more likely to have heart conditions or stroke than people in Canada of European descent.
- People in Canada of South Asian descent are 11% more likely to have high blood pressure (hypertension).
- South Asian women in British Columbia are 1.5X more likely to have a heart attack than white women, according to a Canadian study.
- In Canada, South Asian women over 18 have a diabetes rate that is 2X higher than white women.
