Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health最新文献

Regular mammogram screenings are effective for early breast cancer (BC) detection and decreased mortality rate. However, immigrant Muslim Arab women (IMAW) are less likely to adhere to these screenings although the rate of BC among IMAW is high. Recent studies have explored low mammogram screening rates among immigrant Muslim and/or Arab women from a limited perspective, overlooking the fact that husbands have an influence in IMAW's health behaviors toward cancer screenings. Thus, this mixed-method approaches were employed to (a) explore the association between spousal support and IMAW's health beliefs toward mammograms and their utilization, (b) to understand IMAW's experiences of spousal influence related to their mammogram use and health beliefs. The quantitative portion of the study, recruitment and data collection were conducted via online surveys in Arabic and English. Logistic regressions were used to explore relationships between perceived spousal support and IMAW's mammogram utilization and health beliefs. The qualitative portion of the study was conducted on a purposive sample of IMAW. A semi-structured interview guide in Arabic and English was used during one-on-one interviews. Arabic interviews were translated into English and transcribed by professionals. Interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2008). A total of 184 IMAW completed the survey with mean age of 50.4 (SD = 5.58, range = 45-60). Results revealed low mammogram screening rate among IMAW. Only 32.6% adhered to mammograms. Spousal support was positively associated with ever having obtained a mammogram and IMAW's adherence to mammogram. The 20 qualitative interviews, 16 in Arabic and four in English, produced rich description supporting results from the survey which includes, (a) types of spousal support, (b) impact of spousal support on participants' mammogram utilization and experience, and (3) impact of spousal support on participants' health beliefs toward mammograms. Findings from surveys and interviews show that a husband's support is positively associated with IMAW's mammogram utilization and health beliefs. Suggesting a new approach to integrate husbands in culturally appropriate interventions to increase mammogram screening rates among IMAW.

This study examines the factors influencing physical health status, specifically focusing on the gender differences in risk and promotive factors affecting health outcomes among Somali refugee youth displaced in Nairobi, Kenya (n = 227). A survey was used to assess participants' physical health along with psychosocial factors, somatic symptoms, and demographic characteristics. The study shows that religious belief and somatic symptoms among the total sample were significant predictors in influencing the outcome of physical health. A moderated mediation analysis and logistic regression analyses also revealed gender differences in associated factors as well as health status; female participants reported higher somatic symptoms, associated with a decline in physical health, whereas the protective effect of social support and religious belief promote was found only among male counterparts. Future studies and interventions would be benefited from a gender-specific approach to health promotion and coping mechanisms in this population.

The growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the United States (US) has disproportionately affected minority populations more than their white counterparts. A population that is often overlooked is the Asian American population, particularly Southeastern Asian immigrants. Despite having relatively favorable socioeconomic indicators compared to the general US population, Asian Americans, specifically Southeast Asian individuals, face a significant burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and are considered a high cardiovascular disease risk group. In addition, most studies have aggregated Asian populations into one major racial group rather than analyzing the different ethnicities among the Asian categorization. While some studies suggest that the acculturation process has some degree of impact on cardiovascular health, there has not been a widely-used tool to measure or ascertain the totality of acculturation. Instead, multiple proxies have been used to measure acculturation, and prior studies have argued for more culturally-tailored acculturation proxies. This paper aims to assess the implications of different acculturation measures on cardiovascular health among Asian Americans, particularly Southeastern Asian immigrants. The following proxies were expanded on in this paper: English spoken at home, length of stay in the US, religiosity and spirituality, and admixed family structures. Previous studies showed that as the length of stay in the US increases, the burden of cardiovascular risk factors increases. However, the impact of English spoken at home, religiosity, and admixed family structure are still inconclusive given the extent of current studies. While most studies suggest that an increase in acculturation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it is critical to note that acculturation is a multifaceted process. Therefore, more studies are necessary to appropriately examine the implications of various acculturation processes on cardiovascular risk factors in Asians, specifically Southeastern Asian individuals in the US.

The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status, oral health behaviours and oral healthcare utilization among Indian migrants living in the Netherlands and how they compare with the host population. Based on a random sample from Dutch municipalities, cross-sectional data were obtained for the Indian migrants living in the Netherlands (n = 148) and the host population (n = 244). A questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, self-reported oral health status, oral health behaviours and oral healthcare utilization. The distribution of self-reported oral health variables for both groups were tabulated and compared using logistic, ordinal and multinomial regression analysis. When adjusted for covariates such as age, gender, marital status, education, income, occupation and dental insurance, regression analysis for oral health status showed that the odds of reporting oral impact on daily performances (OIDP) was 5.87 times higher for Indians compared to the host population (95%CI:3.45;9.65). In contrast, the odds of Indians reporting bleeding gums [OR = 0.44 (95%CI:0.27;0.73)] and diagnosed with gum diseases [OR = 0.23(95%CI:0.13;0.39)] were lower than the host population. Also, the odds of consuming alcohol and cakes or chocolates was significantly lower among Indian migrants compared to the host population [(OR = 0.15(95%CI:0.09;0.25)] and [OR = 0.33(95%CI:0.21;0.52)], respectively. But the odds of consuming sugar in hot beverages were significantly higher among Indians [OR = 10.44(95%CI:5.99;18.19)]. The odds of Indians visiting a dental professional were 9.22 times (95%CI:4.62;18.40) lower compared to the host population. We found that oral health status and behaviours among Indian migrants were different in certain aspects compared to the host population. However, their oral healthcare utilization remained overall lower. The underlying determinants for such observations merit further research. Migrant friendly approach from both the dental professionals and policy makers can encourage dental visits and improve the utilization patterns among Indians migrants in the future.

The United States' (US) African immigrant (AI) population is growing, yet they are underrepresented in health and nutrition research. This population experiences difficulties finding culturally appropriate foods and navigating the US food environment (FE), is highly food insecure (FI), and vulnerable to mental disorders. This review examined the current evidence for AIs' food and mental health outcomes and connections; and identified gaps in the literature and future research opportunities. A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS. Twenty-one studies were identified, reporting high (37-85%) FI rates, poor diet quality, and increased risk of mental disorders among participants. Challenges in the FE, lack of transportation, limited access to ethnic foods, low SES, and language barriers were associated with FI and poor diet quality. Similarly, discrimination, substance use, and immigration status were associated with depression and anxiety. However, studies examining the connection between AI's food experience and mental health are lacking. AIs are at a higher risk for FI, poor diet quality, and mental disorders. Ethnic-specific research to understand the connection between their food and mental health is needed to reduce nutrition and mental health disparities.

The subpopulation of adults depends on non-online health information sources including their social networks and health professionals, to the exclusion of online sources. In view of the digital divide and health information disparities, the roles of race/ethnicity and digital skills are yet to be explored. A nationally representative sample of 6,830 adults from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) was analyzed, using binary logistic regression. Black adults and adults with higher digital skills were less likely to be reliant on non-online health information sources, compared to White adults and those with lower digital skills, respectively. Differences in non-online health information source reliance by race/ethnicity and digital skills might be further nuanced by the relevant demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Increasing digital skills may expand one's health information sources to include reliable online sources and empower adults to promote their health.

This study examines the influence of cultural context on social distance and perceptions of stigma towards mental health conditions among Latino populations in Houston, TX, USA and Mexico City, Mexico. We employed a community-based experimental vignette survey to assess perceptions towards individuals experiencing symptoms of alcohol misuse, depression, and psychosis. Participants (n = 513) from Houston and Mexico City were asked about their willingness to accept community members experiencing mental health symptoms in various social roles, their perceptions of stigma related to these symptoms, anticipated danger, possible positive outcomes, and the community member's ability to change. Findings demonstrate significant differences in stigma perceptions between Latino respondents in the US and in Mexico. Houston participants reported lower public stigma and perceived dangerousness of someone with mental health concerns compared to respondents in Mexico City. Furthermore, the cultural context may influence the association between various dimensions of stigma, with some inverse relationships occurring based on location of data collection. Findings illuminate the complex interplay between cultural context, mental health symptoms, and stigma, and underscores the need for culturally nuanced interventions to reduce mental health stigma and promote service utilization in Latino communities.

Physical activity can delay functional decline in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but these associations have not been studied within a sample of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults with T2D. Using data from a randomized control trial in which 218 Marshallese adults with T2D participated in a 10-week diabetes self-management education intervention, this study tested our hypothesis that physical activity would predict physical function when controlling for time and other variables. Levels of physical activity were positively associated with levels of physical function, even after controlling for time and other covariates. These findings provide a more robust understanding of the relationship between physical activity and physical function in a sample of minority adults with T2D. Future studies should further explore levels of physical activity needed to maintain and improve physical function so that culturally appropriate physical activity interventions can be developed.

This study aimed to (1) identify differences in sleep patterns between Filipino migrants and non-migrants across 2 years and (2) explore the impact of discrimination trajectories on sleep trajectories. The Health of Philippine Emigrants Study (HoPES) consisted of a migrant (n = 832) and non-migrant cohort (n = 805), with baseline data collected in the Philippines. Both cohorts were followed longitudinally, with the non-migrants followed in the Philippines and the migrant cohort followed to the United States. Sleep duration, quality, and difficulty were assessed with the National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS) inventory, and discrimination was measured with an adapted version of the Everyday Discrimination scale. Migrants reported a faster decline in sleep duration (- 12 min a year) but higher sleep quality than non-migrants over 2 years. Migrants who reported high initial levels of everyday discrimination also reported faster declines in sleep duration and a slower decline in sleep difficulty. Further, migrants who reported stable (versus declining) levels of discrimination over 2 years reported a faster decline in sleep quality. These results speak to the complexity of immigrant health patterns and long-term associations between discrimination and sleep processes.

The First 1000 Days (the period from conception to a child's second birthday) is an important developmental period. However, little is known about experiences of parents with refugee and migrant backgrounds during this period. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Publications were identified through searches of the Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, critically appraised, and synthesised using thematic analysis. A total of 35 papers met inclusion criteria. Depressive symptomatology was consistently higher than global averages, however maternal depression conceptualisations differed across studies. Several papers reported changes in relationship dynamics as a result of having a baby post-migration. Consistent relationships were found between social and health support and wellbeing. Conceptualisations of wellbeing may differ among migrant families. Limited understanding of health services and relationships with health providers may impede help-seeking. Several research gaps were identified, particularly in relation to the wellbeing of fathers, and of parents of children over 12 months old.