BMC Public Health
Volume 15, Issue 1, 2015

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors across six African Immigrant Groups in Minnesota (Article) (Open Access)

Sewali B.* , Harcourt N. , Everson-Rose S.A. , Leduc R.E. , Osman S. , Allen M.L. , Okuyemi K.S.
  • a Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • b Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • c Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • d Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • e New American Community Services, Minneapolis, MN 55104, United States
  • f Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
  • g Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States

Abstract

Background: Although African immigrants represent a large and growing segment of the U.S. population, there are little or no data available on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among this diverse population. This study compared the prevalence of self-reported CVD risk factors and health behaviors and examined the associations between immigration related characteristics and CVD risk factors and health behaviors across six African immigrants groups. Methods: Data were from 996 African immigrants in the U.S., (37.9% Somalis; 26.8% Ethiopians; 14% Liberians; 8.5% Sudanese; 5.1% Kenyans and 7.8% others group) from a cross-sectional survey conducted in the Twin cities of Minnesota. Logistic regression models estimated the associations of demographic characteristics, and immigration-related factors (length of stay in the United states, English proficiency, income and health insurance) with prevalence of CVD risk factors (overweight/obese; hypertension and diabetes mellitus) and self-reported health behaviors (cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, conscious effort to exercise and eating a healthy diet). Results: We found a relatively low self-reported prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. However, significant differences were noted by country of origin. Using Somalis as our referent country of origin group, we found that Liberians and Kenyans were more likely to report having diabetes or hypertension. On all measures of health behaviors, Liberians were more likely to engage in more health protective behaviors than other individuals. Conclusions: Although African immigrants have different prevalence rates for CVD risk factors and health behaviors, there is a need to further explore the differences observed by country of emigration. © 2015 Sewali et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

Author Keywords

Immigrant risk factors African Cardiovascular

Index Keywords

exercise Cardiovascular Diseases human epidemiology Health Behavior Self Report middle aged statistics and numerical data diabetes mellitus health service obesity diet hypertension Logistic Models Minnesota ethnology African American Health Services Needs and Demand Cross-Sectional Studies United States cross-sectional study migrant Humans cardiovascular disease smoking male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics prevalence adult statistical model African Americans
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928342961&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-015-1740-3&partnerID=40&md5=4441fe8de815878c88e05fa83bd38098
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1740-3
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English