BMC Public Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2018
Health of Philippine Emigrants Study (HoPES): Study design and rationale (Article) (Open Access)
Gee G.C.* ,
De Castro A.B. ,
Crespi C.M. ,
Wang M.C. ,
Llave K. ,
Brindle E. ,
Lee N.R. ,
Kabamalan M.M.M. ,
Hing A.K.
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a
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, United States
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b
University of Washington, School of Nursing, Box 357260, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
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c
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, United States
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d
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, United States
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e
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, United States
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f
Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Box 353412, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
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g
Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and History, USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc., University of San Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City, Philippines
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h
Population Institute, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippine, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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i
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, United States
Abstract
Background: Immigrants to the United States are usually healthier than their U.S.-born counterparts, yet the health of immigrants declines with duration of stay in the U.S. This pattern is often seen for numerous health problems such as obesity, and is usually attributed to acculturation (the adoption of "American" behaviors and norms). However, an alternative explanation is secular trends, given that rates of obesity have been rising globally. Few studies of immigrants are designed to distinguish the effects of acculturation versus secular trends, in part because most studies of immigrants are cross-sectional, lack baseline data prior to migration, and do not have a comparison group of non-migrants in the country of origin. This paper describes the Health of Philippine Emigrants Study (HoPES), a study designed to address many of these limitations. Methods: HoPES is a dual-cohort, longitudinal, transnational study. The first cohort consisted of Filipinos migrating to the United States (n = 832). The second cohort consisted of non-migrant Filipinos who planned to remain in the Philippines (n = 805). Baseline data were collected from both cohorts in 2017 in the Philippines, with follow-up data collection planned over 3 years in either the U.S. for the migrant cohort or the Philippines for the non-migrant cohort. At baseline, interviewers administered semi-structured questionnaires that assessed demographic characteristics, diet, physical activity, stress, and immigration experiences. Interviewers also measured weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure, and collected dried blood spot samples. Discussion: Migrants enrolled in the study appear to be representative of recent Filipino migrants to the U.S. Additionally, migrant and non-migrant study participants are comparable on several characteristics that we attempted to balance at baseline, including age, gender, and education. HoPES is a unique study that approximates a natural experiment from which to study the effects of immigration on obesity and other health problems. A number of innovative methodological strategies were pursued to expand the boundaries of current immigrant health research. Key to accomplishing this research was investment in building collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the U.S. and the Philippines with shared interest in the health of migrants. © 2018 The Author(s).
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048764897&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-018-5670-8&partnerID=40&md5=009743e57abbd360050a791db0a89862
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5670-8
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English