Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 29311

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
2. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Interests: cardiovascular disease; epidemiology; immigrant health; global health; health equity; social determinants of health

Prof. Dr. Charles Agyemang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Public and Occupational Health, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: ethnicity; migration; chronic non-communicable diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to organize a Special Issue on "The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions" in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Global migration from Africa to more economically advanced regions such as the United States, Europe, and Australia has reached unprecedented rates in the past five decades. In the United States, the size of the African migrant population grew 50% from 2010 to 2018, far outpacing migrants from Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. The United Nations estimated that there swere over 4 million sub-Saharan African migrants residing in Europe in 2017. Reasons for emigration from Africa include employment and educational opportunities, family reunification, and conflict.

Research on the health of African migrants has not kept pace with the growing size of the African migrant population in the economically advanced regions of the world. This limits the understanding of the health conditions, including communicable and non-communicable diseases and their determinants, as well as our ability to develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies. African migrants are a historically marginalized population and they experience unique health challenges, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle upon migration and navigating through complex health systems due to low socioeconomic status and linguistic challenges.

Understanding the health burden and complex determinants involved, including migration-related lifestyle changes, socioeconomic circumstances, psychosocial stressors, genetic predispositions, and the broader social determinants of health that shape the health experiences of African migrants, is crucial for designing effective health promotion strategies and clinical interventions to improve the health of these populations in economically advanced countries. This current Special Issue on “The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions” addresses this issue head-on.

This Special Issue is open to any health subject area relating to the health of African migrants and any geographical scope, as long as it advances our understanding of pathways for improving the health and health care access of African migrants. Our interests include but are not limited to studies reporting the prevalence and incidence of disease, barriers faced by African migrants, determinants of health, interventions, and policies to improve the health of African migrants.

This pressing issue aligns with UCL-Lancet Commission on Migration and Health¹ and the World Health Organization Global Action Plan for promoting the health of refugees and migrants.

¹ Abubakar I, Aldridge RW, Devakumar D, et al. The UCL-lancet commission on migration and health: The health of a world on the move. Lancet. 2018;392(10164):2606-2654. doi: S0140-6736(18)32114-7 [pii].

Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah
Prof. Dr. Charles Agyemang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

African migrants
Africa immigrants
African Continental Ancestry Group
emigrants and immigrants
immigrant health
noncommunicable diseases
communicable diseases
health status disparities
Sub-Saharan Africa
social determinants of health

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

13 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Associations between Depression, Acculturation, and Cardiovascular Health among African Immigrants in the United States

by Nwakaego A. Nmezi, Ruth-Alma Turkson-Ocran, Carolyn M. Tucker and Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6658; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116658 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2038

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death both globally and in the United States (U.S.). Racial health disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH) persist with non-Hispanic Black adults having a higher burden of CVD morbidity and mortality compared to other racial groups. African immigrants represent an increasingly growing sub-population of the overall U.S. non-Hispanic Black adult population, however little is known about how specific psychological and social factors (i.e., depression and acculturation) influence the CVH of U.S. African immigrants. We sought to examine the association between severity of depression symptomology and CVH among African immigrants, and whether acculturation moderated the relationship between severity of depression symptoms and CVH. Study participants were those in the African Immigrant Health Study conducted in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area. Severity of depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). CVH was assessed using the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 metrics and categorized as poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH. Acculturation measured as length of stay and acculturation strategy was examined as a moderator variable. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between depression and CVH and the moderating effect of acculturation adjusting for known confounders. In total 317 African immigrants participated in the study. The mean (±SD) age of study participants was 46.9 (±11.1) and a majority (60%) identified as female. Overall, 8.8% of study participants endorsed moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression. African immigrants endorsing moderate-to-severe levels of depression were less likely to have ideal CVH compared to those with minimal-to-mild symptoms of depression (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.17–0.99). Acculturation measured either as length of stay or acculturation strategy did not moderate the relationship between depression and CVH among study participants. Study participants exhibited elevated levels of symptoms of depression. Greater severity of depression symptoms was associated with worse CVH. Efforts to treat and prevent CVD among African immigrants should also include a focus on addressing symptoms of depression within this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

13 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Educators as Health and Education Mediators for African Asylum Seekers in Israel

by Dolly Eliyahu-Levi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5200; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095200 - 25 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Israel is not isolated from the global migration process. It is required to provide a medical, educational, and socio-cultural response to the integration of tens of thousands of African asylum seekers. This qualitative-phenomenological study collected data from 15 educators as a primary source and learned about their actions to mediate health and educational issues for African asylum seekers. The findings reveal four categories: (1) a healthy lifestyle; (2) emotional-behavioral; (3) learning disabilities and special needs; (4) diseases, vaccines, and medical treatments. It seems that educators are forced to take on roles traditionally entrusted to the state, and they have become agents of socialization who mediate between parents and the Israeli health and education system through personal relationships and individual conversations. This study reveals a dual reality: on the one hand, African asylum seekers experience alienation, exclusion, and violence; on the other hand, they gain a positive point of view when parents see the educators as loyal partners and sources of knowledge who can be consulted to receive help in routine times and during the coronavirus pandemic, a time in which they lost their livelihood, health insurance, and ability to understand the new rules of the lockdowns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

19 pages, 371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Immigrant Memory Collaborative: A Community–University Partnership to Assess African Immigrant Families’ Experiences with Dementia

by Manka Nkimbeng, Christina E. Rosebush, Kwame O. Akosah, Hawking Yam, Wynfred N. Russell, Gabriela Bustamante, Elizabeth A. Albers, Tetyana P. Shippee, Arundhathi P. Sasikumar and Joseph E. Gaugler

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074075 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2064

Abstract

Research suggests a disparity in the prevalence of dementia, with Black older adults having double the risk compared to their White counterparts. African immigrants are a fast-growing segment of the U.S. Black population, but the dementia care needs and resources of this population are not fully understood. In this paper, we describe the process of working collaboratively with a community partner and project advisory board to conduct a culturally informed project. Specifically, we describe the process of developing culturally informed instruments to collect data on dementia care needs and resources among African immigrants. Working together with a diverse project advisory board, a guide was developed and used to conduct community conversations about experiences with dementia/memory loss. Transcripts from six conversations with 24 total participants were transcribed and analyzed thematically by two independent coders in Nvivo. These qualitative findings were used to inform the development of a survey for quantitative data collection that is currently ongoing. Themes (e.g., cultural attitudes, challenges, and current resources) from the community conversations that informed the survey are described briefly. Despite the challenges of conducting research during a global pandemic, having trusting relationships with a partnering community organization and project advisory board facilitated the successful development of instruments to conduct preliminary dementia care research in an underserved population. We anticipate that survey results will inform interventions that increase education, outreach, and access to dementia care and caregiving resources for this population. It may serve as a model for community–university partnerships for similar public health efforts in dementia as well as other chronic disease contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

14 pages, 513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sleep and Economic Status Are Linked to Daily Life Stress in African-Born Blacks Living in America

by Zoe C. Waldman, Blayne R. Schenk, Marie Grace Duhuze Karera, Arielle C. Patterson, Thomas Hormenu, Lilian S. Mabundo, Christopher W. DuBose, Ram Jagannathan, Peter L. Whitesell, Annemarie Wentzel, Margrethe F. Horlyck-Romanovsky and Anne E. Sumner

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052562 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2734

Abstract

To identify determinants of daily life stress in Africans in America, 156 African-born Blacks (Age: 40 ± 10 years (mean ± SD), range 22–65 years) who came to the United States as adults (age ≥ 18 years) were asked about stress, sleep, behavior and socioeconomic status. Daily life stress and sleep quality were assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. High-stress was defined by the threshold of the upper quartile of population distribution of PSS (≥16) and low-stress as PSS < 16. Poor sleep quality required PSQI > 5. Low income was defined as <40 k yearly. In the high and low-stress groups, PSS were: 21 ± 4 versus 9 ± 4, p < 0.001 and PSQI were: 6 ± 3 versus 4 ± 3, p < 0.001, respectively. PSS and PSQI were correlated (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). The odds of high-stress were higher among those with poor sleep quality (OR 5.11, 95% CI: 2.07, 12.62), low income (OR 5.03, 95% CI: 1.75, 14.47), and no health insurance (OR 3.01, 95% CI: 1.19, 8.56). Overall, in African-born Blacks living in America, daily life stress appears to be linked to poor quality sleep and exacerbated by low income and lack of health insurance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acculturation and Cardiovascular Risk Screening among African Immigrants: The African Immigrant Health Study

by Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, Ruth-Alma Turkson-Ocran, Binu Koirala, Samuel Byiringiro, Xiaoyue Liu, Sabrina Elias, Danielle Mensah, Emmanuel Turkson-Ocran, Manka Nkimbeng, Joycelyn Cudjoe, Diana Baptiste and Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052556 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2676

Abstract

Acculturation and immigration-related factors may impact preventive, routine cardiovascular risk (CV) screening among African immigrants. We examined the associations between length of stay, percent of life spent in the U.S. (proxy for acculturation), and CV screening. Outcomes were recent screening for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine these relationships. Among 437 African immigrants, 60% were males, mean age was 47 years, 61% had lived in the U.S. for ≥10 years, mean length of stay was 15 years, and 81% were employed. Only 67% were insured. In the 12 months prior, 85% had screened for hypertension, 45% for diabetes, and 63% for dyslipidemia. African immigrants with a ≥10-year length of U.S. stay had 2.20 (95%Confidence Intervals: 1.31–3.67), and those with >25% years of life spent in the U.S. had 3.62 (95%CI: 1.96–6.68) higher odds of dyslipidemia screening compared to those with a <10-year length of stay and ≤25% years of life spent in the U.S., respectively. Overall, screening for CV risk higher in African immigrants who have lived longer (≥10 years) in the U.S. Recent African immigrants may experience challenges in accessing healthcare. Health policies targeting recent and uninsured African immigrants may improve access to CV screening services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Where to Retire? Experiences of Older African Immigrants in the United States

by Manka Nkimbeng, Alvine Akumbom, Marianne Granbom, Sarah L. Szanton, Tetyana P. Shippee, Roland J. Thorpe, Jr. and Joseph E. Gaugler

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031040 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2979

Abstract

Doubling in size since the 1970s, the aging needs of the African immigrant population are not fully understood. This qualitative study examined experiences of aging and retirement planning for African immigrant older adults in the United States (U.S.). Specifically, it explored the factors, processes, and ultimate decision of where these older adults planned to retire. Secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with 15 older African immigrants in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area was conducted. Data was analyzed using thematic analyses in NVivo. The majority of participants were women, with a mean age of 64. Three overarching themes with ten sub-themes were identified. The themes included: (1) cultural identity, which indicated the participant’s comfort with the U.S. society and culture; (2) decision making, meaning factors that impact participants’ choice of retirement location; and (3) decision made, meaning the final choice of where participants would like to retire. Age-friendliness for immigrant older adults in the U.S. is complex and it includes traditional domains such as physical and sociocultural environment (e.g., housing, transportation, and income). However, immigrant age-friendliness also needs to include wider contextual aspects such as political climate of their country of origin, immigrant status, family responsibilities, and acculturation in the U.S. More research is needed to better understand and facilitate age-friendly environments and transnational aging of immigrant older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acculturation Strategies and Pap Screening Uptake among Sub-Saharan African Immigrants (SAIs)

by Adebola Adegboyega, Jia-Rong Wu and Gia Mudd-Martin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13204; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413204 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2205

Abstract

Although regular cervical cancer screening can prevent cervical cancer, screening utilization remains low among immigrant population including sub-Saharan African immigrants (SAIs). Acculturation is a complex process, which can lead to adoption of positive or negative health behaviors from the dominant culture. Acculturation strategies are the varying ways in which individuals seek to go about their acculturation by either maintaining or rejecting their own cultural values ip or accepting or rejecting the host culture’s cultural values. Cervical cancer screening behaviors among SAI women may be influenced by their acculturation strategies. We conducted a secondary analysis of data to examine the relationship between acculturation strategies and Pap screening among 99 SAI women recruited from community settings. Data were collected on Pap screening behavior and acculturation strategy. Traditionalists and Integrationists were the dominant acculturation strategies; 32.3% women were Traditionalists and 67.7% Integrationists. From the logistic regression models, Integrationists had seven times the odds of having ever been screened compared to Traditionalists (OR = 7.08, 95% CI = 1.54–28.91). Cervical cancer screening interventions should prioritize Traditionalists for cancer screening. Acculturation strategies may be used to tailor cancer prevention and control for SAIs. More research among a larger SAI women sample is warranted to further our understanding of Pap screening patterns and acculturation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

20 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“They Wait until the Disease Has Taking over You and the Doctors Cannot Do Anything about It”: Qualitative Insights from Harambee! 2.0

by Shukri A. Hassan, Farah Mohamed, Najma Sheikh, Guiomar Basualdo, Nahom A. Daniel, Rahel Schwartz, Beyene Tewelde Gebreselassie, Yikealo K. Beyene, Luwam Gabreselassie, Kifleyesus Bayru, Bethel Tadesse, Hirut Amsalu Libneh, Mohamed Shidane, Sophia Benalfew, Ahmed Ali, Deepa Rao, Rena C. Patel and Roxanne P. Kerani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312706 - 2 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2235

Abstract

African immigrants make up a large subgroup of Black/African-Americans in the US. However, because African immigrant groups are typically categorized as “Black,” little is known about their preventative healthcare needs. Differences in culture, life and healthcare experiences between African immigrant populations and US-born people may influence preventive health care uptake. Thus, policymakers and healthcare providers lack information needed to make informed decisions around preventive care for African immigrants. This formative study was conducted among the largest East African immigrant communities in King County, WA. We recruited religious leaders, community leaders, health professionals, and lay community members to participate in thirty key informant interviews and five focus group discussions (n = 72 total), to better understand preventative healthcare attitudes in these communities. Through inductive coding and thematic analysis, we identified factors that impact preventative healthcare attitudes of the Somali, Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrant communities and deter them from accessing and utilizing healthcare. Cultural beliefs and attitudes around preventative healthcare, mistrust of westernized healthcare, religious beliefs/views, intersecting identities and shared immigrant experiences all influence how participants view preventative healthcare. Our results suggest that interventions that address these factors are needed to most effectively increase uptake of preventative healthcare in African immigrant communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

17 pages, 1481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Magnitude and Directions of the Associations between Early Life Factors and Metabolic Syndrome Differ across Geographical Locations among Migrant and Non-Migrant Ghanaians—The RODAM Study

by Thijs G. W. van der Heijden, Felix P. Chilunga, Karlijn A. C. Meeks, Juliet Addo, Ina Danquah, Erik J. Beune, Silver K. Bahendeka, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Frank P. Mockenhaupt, Mitzi M. Waltz and Charles Agyemang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211996 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2398

Abstract

Background: Early-life factors (ELFs) such as childhood nutrition and childhood socio-economic status could be the drivers of the increase in metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among African populations, but data are lacking. This study evaluated whether markers of childhood nutritional status and childhood socio-economic status were associated with MetSyn in adulthood among migrant Ghanaians living in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians living in Ghana. Methods: Data from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study, involving 2008 migrants and 2320 non-migrants aged ≥25 years, were analysed for this study. We used leg-length to height ratio (LHR), which is an anthropometric marker of childhood nutritional status, and parental education, which is a marker of childhood socio-economic status, as proxies. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by logistic regression with adjustments for demographic and lifestyle factors. Results: Parental education was higher among Ghanaians in Europe than among residents in rural and urban Ghana. The prevalence of MetSyn was 18.5%, 27.7% and 33.5% for rural, urban, and migrant residents, respectively. LHR was inversely associated with MetSyn among migrants. Compared with high paternal education, individuals with low paternal education had lower odds of MetSyn in migrants (AOR 0.71 95% CI 0.54–0.94). In contrast, compared with high maternal education, individuals with intermediate maternal education had higher odds of MetSyn in urban Ghanaians (AOR 4.53 95% CI 1.50–3.74). No associations were found among rural Ghanaians. Conclusion: The magnitude and direction of the associations between ELFs and MetSyn differ across geographical locations. Intermediate maternal education was positively associated with MetSyn among urban Ghanaians, while LHR and low paternal education were inversely associated with MetSyn among migrant Ghanaians. Further research into the interplay of genetics, environment and behaviour is needed to elucidate the underlying pathological mechanisms of MetSyn amongst migrants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

40 pages, 1122 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Black Nativity and Health Disparities: A Research Paradigm for Understanding the Social Determinants of Health

by Mosi Adesina Ifatunji, Yanica Faustin, Wendy Lee and Deshira Wallace

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159166 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3319

Abstract

After more than a century of research and debate, the scientific community has yet to reach agreement on the principal causes of racialized disparities in population health. This debate currently centers on the degree to which “race residuals” are a result of unobserved differences in the social context or unobserved differences in population characteristics. The comparative study of native and foreign-born Black populations represents a quasi-experimental design where race is “held constant”. Such studies present a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the social determinants of population health disparities. Since native and foreign-born Black populations occupy different sociocultural locations, and since populations with greater African ancestry have greater genetic diversity, comparative studies of these populations will advance our understanding of the complex relationship between sociocultural context, population characteristics and health outcomes. Therefore, we offer a conceptual framing for the comparative study of native and foreign-born Blacks along with a review of 208 studies that compare the mental and physical health of these populations. Although there is some complexity, especially with respect to mental health, the overall pattern is that foreign-born Blacks have better health outcomes than native-born Blacks. After reviewing these studies, we conclude with suggestions for future studies in this promising area of social and medical research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3513 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Cardiometabolic Health of African Immigrants in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

by Danielle Mensah, Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran, Chioma Onuoha, Samuel Byiringiro, Nwakaego A. Nmezi, Ivy Mannoh, Elisheva Wecker, Ednah N. Madu and Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7959; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137959 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2605

Abstract

In recent decades, the number of African immigrants in high-income countries (HICs) has increased significantly. However, the cardiometabolic health of this population remains poorly examined. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to examine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among sub-Saharan African immigrants residing in HICs. Studies were identified through searches in electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science up to July 2021. Data on the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors were extracted and synthesized in a narrative format, and a meta-analysis of pooled proportions was also conducted. Of 8655 unique records, 35 articles that reported data on the specific African countries of origin of African immigrants were included in the review. We observed heterogeneity in the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors by African country of origin and HIC. The most prevalent risk factors were hypertension (27%, range: 6–55%), overweight/obesity (59%, range: 13–91%), and dyslipidemia (29%, range: 11–77.2%). The pooled prevalence of diabetes was 11% (range: 5–17%), and 7% (range: 0.7–14.8%) for smoking. Few studies examined kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, and diagnosed cardiometabolic disease. Policy changes and effective interventions are needed to improve the cardiometabolic health of African immigrants, improve care access and utilization, and advance health equity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Health of African Migrants: The Burden, Determinants, and Solutions

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (11 papers)

Research

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI