No Equity without Data Equity: Data Reporting Gaps for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders as Structural Racism

Abstract

Abstract Data on the health and social determinants for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in the United States (US) are hidden because data are often not collected or are reported in aggregate with other racial/ethnic groups, despite decades of calls to disaggregate NHPI data. As a form of structural racism, data omissions contribute to systemic problems such as inability to advocate, lack of resources, and limitations to political power. We conducted a data audit to determine how US federal agencies are collecting and reporting disaggregated NHPI data. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, we reviewed how states are reporting NHPI cases and deaths. Last, we calculated the extent of NHPI underrepresentation in communities targeted for COVID-19 resources in California using the state’s neighborhood equity metric—Healthy Places Index (HPI). Our analysis shows that while there has been improvement in collection and reporting of NHPI data nationally, federal data gaps remain. States are vastly underreporting—over half of states are not reporting NHPI COVID-19 case and death data. The HPI, used to inform political decisions about allocation of resources to combat COVID-19, systematically underrepresents NHPI communities. We make recommendations for improving NHPI data equity to achieve health equity and social justice.