Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Erin Michelle Koers, MPH¹, R. Sue Day, PhD¹, Charles Ford, PhD², Steve Kelder, PhD³, and Christine A. Tisone, MPH, PhD⁴. (1) Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS E625, Houston, TX 77225, 317-372-6329, Erin.M.Koers@uth.tmc.edu, (2) Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS E827, Houston, TX 77225, (3) The University of Texas School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin, UCT-2658, Houston, TX 77225, (4) Peace Corps, Entrena, S.A., Calle Caonabo, No. 43, Guazcue, Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

This study examines quality of life and health concerns relevant to the Cuban immigrant population living in a developing country, the Dominican Republic, during the summer of 2005. Data collected from 10 qualitative interviews and 6 questionnaires conducted among this immigrant community provided a health-focused ethnographic overview of this population and a model of the first three phases of the PRECEDE Planning Model (Social Diagnosis, Epidemiological Diagnosis, and Behavioral and Environmental Diagnosis). Among the primary health concerns and issues that emerged from this research are experiences of stress and high blood pressure possibly associated with the process of migration and settling in a new country, as well as barriers to accessing health care. Length of time since migration was found to have an important influence on two separate pathways- economic stability and social support- which in turn may affect stress levels, and ultimately health outcomes. The issues that emerged from this research help comprise a health needs assessment that may be used to generate hypotheses for future research investigating such social and cultural intricacies characteristic of this migrating population. It is recommended that a particular emphasis be placed on further investigation of the perspectives regarding access to health care for a population that has experienced and acknowledged the strengths and benefits of a socialized health care system (as is provided in Cuba) yet has sought economic independence and advancement (as is promoted by the democratic, capitalist societies such as the United States).

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the quality of life and health concerns relevant to the Cuban immigrant population living in the Dominican Republic
• Prioritize health promotion and intervention planning activities among the Cuban immigrant population in the Dominican Republic through application of the first three phases of the PRECEDE–PROCEED Planning Model
• Identify possible pathways through which the mechanism length of time since migration impacts health outcomes in this population.

Keywords: Immigration, Latin American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation