Influences of Work on Hypertension Management Among Haitian Immigrant Hotel Housekeepers

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is highly prevalent and poorly controlled among Haitian immigrants. Hotel housekeeping is one of the most common sources of employment for this immigrant group. Work influences on their HTN management must be explored. Methods: In this critical ethnography study, 31 Haitian immigrant hotel housekeepers were recruited from Miami Dade County, Florida. Demographic data and transcripts of individual and photovoice interviews were analyzed using SPSS and Atlas Ti software. Results: Work influences on HTN management arose at the individual level, and the system level. The individual level included co-worker dynamics, and maintenance of transmigrant life through work. Co-worker dynamics encompassed interactions among hotel housekeepers. Maintenance of transmigrant life through work referred to work enabling relationship sustainability in Haiti and the U.S. The system level included supervisor support, workload, work pace, and work hiring practice. Supervisor support related to the support that participants experienced from their supervisor. Workload included the tasks participants had to complete. Work pace was the rapidity at which participants had to complete their tasks. Work hiring practice alluded to being hired through the hotel or an agency. Conclusion: This study findings pinpoint to several areas of work at the system level and individual level that than can be addressed to improve HTN management among workers. Further studies are needed to determine whether such work influences on HTN management only pertain to hotel housekeeping or other types of work. Health care providers need to account for these work influences when caring for immigrant workers with hypertension.