Mongolian American Health Disparities and Research Gaps: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND

The Mongolian American population has grown more than eightfold over the past two decades, from 6000 in 2000 to an estimated 50,000 in 2023. Despite this rapid growth, Mongolians remain one of the most understudied Asian American subgroups. Emerging data suggest disproportionately high rates of chronic viral hepatitis and liver cancer in this population, alongside significant barriers to healthcare access, including high uninsured rates, financial hardship, and language and cultural challenges.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify health disparities and knowledge gaps affecting the Mongolian American community.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Following Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review methodology, we searched five databases with keywords "Mongolian," "United States," and "Health" on January 27, 2025. Inclusion criteria were studies on Mongolians in the USA published between 1990 and 2025. Two independent reviewers screened articles using Covidence. Quality was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers, and narrative synthesis was conducted to identify common themes and patterns across studies.

RESULTS

Out of 350 articles identified, three met eligibility criteria. An additional two were identified through reference searches, resulting in a total of five included articles. Three cross-sectional studies analyzed community screening data for hepatitis B and C virus among Mongolians in California and Washington, D.C., and reported 6.2-9.9% HBV and 9.1-9.9% anti-HCV positivity rates. One report found Mongolian Americans in California had the highest poverty rate (24%), lowest homeownership (14%), and low English proficiency (50%) among all other Asian subgroups. A qualitative study of 12 Mongolian women highlighted barriers to culturally and linguistically appropriate perinatal care.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant health and social needs, research on Mongolian Americans is scarce. Findings underscore the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to address high rates of chronic viral hepatitis and improved data collection and disaggregation of this population.