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Al-Adhami M, Durbeej N, Daryani A, Wångdahl J, Larsson EC, Salari R. Can extended health communication improve newly settled refugees' health literacy? A quasi-experimental study from Sweden. Health Promot Int 2024; 39:daae015. [PMID: 38430509 PMCID: PMC10908352 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural and contextual factors such as limited work and housing opportunities negatively affect the health and well-being of newly settled refugee migrants in receiving high-income countries. Health promotion initiatives aiming at strengthening health and integration have been tried out within the Swedish Introduction program for refugee migrants. However, longitudinal evaluations of these interventions are rare. The aim of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of a regular and an extended civic orientation course with added health communication and examine whether the latter would improve self-rated health and psychological well-being, health literacy and social capital among newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden. Pre- and post-assessment questionnaires were collected from the intervention group receiving the extended course (n = 143) and a control group receiving the regular course (n = 173). Linear mixed models and chi-square analyses showed a significant increase with a small effect size (0.21) in health literacy in the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes in emotional and practical support, general self-rated health or psychological well-being. The findings indicate that added health communication provided embedded in the civic orientation course can increase health literacy. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the sustainability of the observed effect and examine whether these short-term improvements in health literacy translate to long-term advances in health and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maissa Al-Adhami
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Natalie Durbeej
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Achraf Daryani
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin Wångdahl
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elin C Larsson
- Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raziye Salari
- Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
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Fleischer NJ, Sadek K. Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Health Disparities Research: A Scoping Review. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-01972-8. [PMID: 38466512 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01972-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research in health disparities and how they affect underserved populations continues to grow and expand. However, the experiences of Arab/Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans often go unnoticed, and yet, preliminary data suggests there are significant disparities between this population and other groups. The purpose of this scoping review is to examine and synthesize the extent of available literature on health disparities and outcomes for this group. METHODS A scoping review was conducted to investigate the current state of research on health disparities and outcomes among Arab/MENA individuals within the USA. The PRISMA protocol for scoping reviews was utilized. RESULTS Through the use of PubMed and PsychInfo databases, the search identified 43 articles that were eligible for inclusion in the final review. Five themes emerged: prevalence and health outcomes, factors impacting health, comparison studies, barriers, and health literacy and beliefs. Extant data was equivocal, suggesting the need for further research. CONCLUSIONS Research on Arab/MENA health disparities and outcomes is in the detection phase, indicating that more research is needed to elucidate the state of Arab/MENA health in the USA. These findings can help healthcare professionals and researchers understand the emerging literature on health disparities within the Arab/MENA community and inform further research and clinical practice within this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J Fleischer
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Katherine Sadek
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Glass DJ, al-Tameemi Z, Farquhar S. Advancing an individual-community health nexus: Survey, visual, and narrative meanings of mental and physical health for Arab emerging adults. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 4:100281. [PMID: 38188867 PMCID: PMC10767648 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Delaney J. Glass
- The University of Washington, Departments of Anthropology and Epidemiology, USA
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Dastgerdizad H, Dombrowski RD, Kulik N, Knoff KAG, Bode B, Mallare J, Elyaderani DK, Kaur R. Enhanced Measurement of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Marketing to Young Immigrant Children in Grocery Store Environments. Nutrients 2023; 15:2972. [PMID: 37447298 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The marketing of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) within grocers is an obesogenic factor that negatively impacts children's nutritional behavior, specifically for people from racial and ethnic minority groups, such as immigrants. We aimed to develop and employ a methodology that more precisely assesses the availability, price, and promotion of SSBs to young immigrant children within independently owned grocery stores. A case comparison design was used to explore the differences in the grocery store landscape of SSB marketing by conducting an enhanced Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-SSB (NEMS-SSB) within 30 grocery stores in the Hispanic and Latino enclaves in Southwest Detroit, in the Arab and Chaldean enclaves in North-central Detroit, and in Warren, Hamtramck, and Dearborn, in comparison with 48 grocers in Metro Detroit. Unsweetened, plant-based, and organic toddler and infant beverages, as well as questions about marketing, were added to the original NEMS to capture the promotion tactics used in marketing SSBs. NEMS-SSB scores revealed that, in the immigrant enclaves, there was a significantly higher availability of SSBs in grocery stores (-2.38), and they had lower prices than those in the comparison group (-0.052). Unsweetened, plant-based, and organic beverages were unavailable in 97% of all participating grocery stores across both groups. Signage featuring cartoon characters was the most frequent in-store SSB marketing tactic across both groups. Widespread SSB marketing toward toddlers within the grocery stores in immigrant enclaves could be linked with the higher early childhood obesity prevalence among the immigrant population. Our findings can assist local and national organizations in developing and implementing healthy eating interventions. This study must be repeated in other immigrant enclaves across states to provide comparable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Dastgerdizad
- Department of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Bluffton, SC 29909, USA
| | - Rachael D Dombrowski
- College of Education, Health and Human Services, California State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
| | - Noel Kulik
- Center for Health and Community Impact, Division of Kinesiology, Health & Sport Studies, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Kathryn A G Knoff
- Office of Policy Support, Food and Nutrition Service, US Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
| | - Bree Bode
- Michigan Fitness Foundation, Lansing, MI 48314, USA
| | - James Mallare
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Dariush K Elyaderani
- Chapman School of Business, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Ravneet Kaur
- Division of Health Research and Evaluation, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
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Yahya T, Acquah I, Taha MB, Valero-Elizondo J, Al-Mallah MH, Chamsi-Pasha MA, Zoghbi WA, Soliman A, Faza N, Cainzos-Achirica M, Nasir K. Cardiovascular risk profile of Middle Eastern immigrants living in the United States-the National Health Interview Survey. Am J Prev Cardiol 2022; 9:100312. [PMID: 35024678 PMCID: PMC8732795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants are one of the fastest-growing groups in the US. Although ME countries have a high burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the cardiovascular health status among ME immigrants in the US has not been studied in detail. This study aims to characterize the cardiovascular health status (CVD risk factors and ASCVD burden) among ME immigrants in the US. METHODS We used 2012-2018 data from the National Health Interview Survey, a US nationally representative survey. ME origin, CVD risk factors, and ASCVD status were self-reported. We compared these to US-born non-Hispanic white (NHW) individuals in the US. RESULTS Among 139,778 adults included, 886 (representing 1.3 million individuals, mean age 46.8) were of ME origin, and 138,892 were US-born NHWs (representing 150 million US adults, mean age 49.3). ME participants were more likely to have higher education, lower income and be uninsured. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension (22.4% vs 27.4%) and obesity (21.4% vs 31.4%) were significantly lower in ME vs NHW participants, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in the age-adjusted prevalence of ASCVD, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Only insufficient physical activity was higher among ME individuals. ME immigrants living in the US for 10 years or more reported higher age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and ASCVD. CONCLUSIONS ME immigrants in the US have lower odds of hypertension and obesity, and of having a suboptimal CRF profile compared to US-born NHWs. Further studies are needed to determine whether these findings are related to lower risk, selection of a healthier ME subgroup in NHIS, or possible under-detection of cardiovascular risk factors in ME immigrants living in the US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamer Yahya
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Isaac Acquah
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston TX, USA
| | - Mohamad B Taha
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Mouaz H. Al-Mallah
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Mohammed A. Chamsi-Pasha
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - William A. Zoghbi
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Ahmed Soliman
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Nadeen Faza
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Miguel Cainzos-Achirica
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston TX, USA
| | - Khurram Nasir
- Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin St Suite 1801, Houston TX 77030, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston TX, USA
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Perception Regarding Knowledge of COVID-19 Prevention in a Sample of a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Community in Houston, Texas, USA. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19010524. [PMID: 35010783 PMCID: PMC8744562 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Knowledge of COVID-19 prevention among communities is the first step towards protective behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess COVID-19 prevention knowledge among a Middle Eastern and North African community in Houston, Texas. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated quantitative survey; survey questions consisted of three parts: COVID-19 specific questions, general health questions, and sociodemographic questions. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of perception of knowledge on preventing COVID-19 spread. The outcome of interest comprised of "good/excellent" versus "average and below" knowledge. (3) Results: A total of 366 participants (66.39% males) completed the survey. A univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences in self-reported COVID-19 prevention knowledge among those with and without health insurance, different ages, level of knowledge, and perceived severity of COVID-19 infection. In the multivariate logistic regression, two predictors were identified: those in the 18-25-year-old group were more likely to have "excellent/good" knowledge on COVID-19 spread compared to the ≥40-year-old group (OR: 6.36; 95% CI: 1.38, 29.34). Those who somewhat agree with knowing how to protect themselves from COVID-19 were more likely to have "excellent/good" knowledge of preventing COVID-19 spread compared to those that neither agree nor disagree or disagree (OR: 7.74; 95% CI: 2.58, 23.26). (4) Conclusions: Younger adults reported higher knowledge of COVID-19 prevention.
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Li Y, Nima Q, Yu B, Xiao X, Zeng P, Suolang D, He R, Ciren Z, Wangqing P, Laba C, Silang Y, Song L, Kangzhu Y, Li J. Determinants of self-rated health among an older Tibetan population in a Chinese plateau area: analysis based on the conceptual framework for determinants of health. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:489. [PMID: 33706725 PMCID: PMC7953750 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10359-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-rated health (SRH) has been frequently used in population health surveys. However, most of these studies only focus on specific factors that might directly affect SRH, so only partial or confounding information about the determinants of SRH is potentially obtained. Conducted in an older Tibetan population in a Chinese plateau area, the aim of our study is to assess interrelationships between various factors affecting SRH based on the conceptual framework for determinants of health. METHODS Between May 2018 and September 2019, 2707 Tibetans aged 50 years or older were recruited as part of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study (CMEC) from the Chengguan District of Lhasa city in Tibet. The information included SRH and variables based on the conceptual framework for determinants of health (i.e., socioeconomic status, health behaviors, physical health, mental health, and chronic diseases). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of multiple factors in the conceptual framework. RESULTS Among all participants, 5.54% rated their health excellent, 51.16% very good, 33.58% good, 9.12% fairly poor and 0.59% poor. Physical health (β = - 0.23, P < 0.001), health behaviors (β = - 0.44, P < 0.001), socioeconomic status (β = - 0.29, P < 0.001), chronic diseases (β = - 0.32, P < 0.001) and gender (β = 0.19, P < 0.001) were directly associated with SRH. Socioeconomic status, physical health and gender affected SRH both directly and indirectly. In addition, there are potential complete mediator effects in which age and mental health affect SRH through mediators, such as physical health, health behaviors and chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggested that interventions targeting behavioral changes, health and chronic disease management should be attached to improve SRH among older populations in plateau areas without ignoring gender and socioeconomic disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Li
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Qucuo Nima
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Bin Yu
- West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiong Xiao
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Peibin Zeng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Deji Suolang
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Ruifeng He
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Zhuoga Ciren
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | | | - Ciren Laba
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Yangzong Silang
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Ling Song
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Yixi Kangzhu
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China
| | - Jingzhong Li
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, China.
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Bulut E, Brewster KL. Psychological distress in middle eastern immigrants to the United States: A challenge to the healthy migrant model? Soc Sci Med 2021; 274:113765. [PMID: 33639394 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE Research has documented a robust mental health advantage among Asian and Latino immigrants to the United States relative to the native-born. The current investigation extended this line of research, asking whether Middle Eastern immigrants to the United States enjoy a similar mental health advantage. METHODS Drawing on pooled cross-sections from the 2007-2018 National Health Interview Surveys, we used OLS regression to examine psychological distress in Middle Eastern immigrants relative to both native-born Whites and immigrants from other global regions. We used statistical interactions to assess whether gender and period differences are contingent on region of birth. RESULTS Findings reveal that the average level of psychological distress is higher among Middle Eastern immigrants than among both U.S.-born Whites and immigrants from other regions. Despite changing circumstances of migration for Middle Easterners and implementation in the United States of anti-immigrant policies, we see no evidence that distress increased more among immigrants compared to native-born Whites. Results point to greater psychological distress among Middle Eastern women than their native-born White counterparts and women from other immigrant groups, as well as Middle Eastern men. In contrast, psychological distress levels for Middle Eastern and native-born White men were indistinguishable, suggesting that the Middle Eastern mental health disadvantage in the United States is borne solely by women. CONCLUSIONS Results show that the mental health advantage enjoyed by some immigrant groups does not extend to Middle Eastern women, contradicting the healthy migrant model and challenging the assumption of a uniform mental health advantage across immigrant groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Bulut
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Demography & Population Health, Florida State University, USA.
| | - Karin L Brewster
- Professor of Sociology and Research Associate, Center for Demography & Population Health, Florida State University, USA.
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