Preventive Medicine Reports
Volume 9, 2018, Pages 80-85

Acculturation and dietary intake pattern among Jamaican immigrants in the US (Article) (Open Access)

Oladele C.R.* , Pathak E.B. , Yang J. , Nembhard W.N. , Sharma S. , Himmelgreen D. , Dagne G. , Mason T.
  • a Equity Research and Innovation Center, Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208093, New Haven, CT, United States
  • b University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States
  • c University of South Florida, Health Informatics Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
  • d University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, United States
  • e University of Alberta, Department of Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • f University of South Florida, Department of Anthropology, Tampa, FL, United States
  • g University of South Florida, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tampa, FL, United States
  • h University of South Florida, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Tampa, FL, United States

Abstract

Information on dietary intakes of Jamaican immigrants in the United States is sparse. Understanding factors that influence diet is important since diet is associated with chronic diseases. This study examined the association between acculturation, socio-cultural factors, and dietary pattern among Jamaican immigrants in Florida. Jamaican persons 25–64 years who resided in two South Florida counties were recruited for participation. A health questionnaire that assessed acculturation, dietary pattern, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease was administered to participants. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to determine associations. Acculturation score was not significantly associated with dietary intake pattern (β = − 0.02 p = 0.07). Age at migration was positively associated with traditional dietary pattern (β = 0.02 p < 0.01). Persons with 12 or fewer years of education (β = − 0.55 p < 0.001), divorced (β = − 0.26 p = 0.001), or engaged in less physical activity (β = − 0.07 p = 0.01) were more likely to adhere to a traditional diet. Although acculturation was not a statistically significant predictor of dietary intake, findings show the role of demographic and lifestyle characteristics in understanding factors associated with dietary patterns among Jamaicans. Findings point to the need to measure traditional dietary intakes among Jamaicans and other immigrant groups. Accurate assessment of disease risk among immigrant groups will lead to more accurate diet-disease risk assessment and development of effective intervention programs. © 2018 The Authors

Author Keywords

Jamaican cardiovascular risk Dietary Patterns Acculturation

Index Keywords

physical activity educational status dietary compliance lifestyle immigrant Jamaican demography human priority journal Florida cross-sectional study male female cultural factor Article major clinical study adult migration age divorced person dietary intake
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040256802&doi=10.1016%2fj.pmedr.2017.12.007&partnerID=40&md5=efd46575e009f4d85b47dcc47ccabcbd
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.12.007
ISSN: 22113355
Original Language: English