Transmigrant Identity and Hypertension Management Among Haitian Immigrants

Background Transmigrants are immigrants who create and maintain relationships that transcend the geographical borders of their home country and country of residence. This identity is facilitated by current global and technological developments. The impact of such identity on immigrants' behaviors towards health and disease management must be understood. Method A critical ethnography study exploring hypertension and hypertension management among 31 Haitian immigrants was conducted in Miami Dade County, Florida. Demographic questionnaire, individual and photovoice interviews were analyzed using SPSS and Atlas Ti software, respectively. Results Transmigrant identity had positive and negative influences on hypertension management among Haitian Immigrants. Positive influences included social support, import of herbal remedies, and obligation to have hypertension under control in order to care for friends and family in Haiti. The negative influences were financial strain, and lack of medication adherence. Conclusion As we experience a global paradigm shift on social, economic, political, and technological levels, research and practice about contemporary immigrant health must be provided within the context of these global changes and transmigrant identity. To address health issues such as hypertension management, we must account for immigrants' identities. These identities have shown to allow for exchange of resources and ideas between immigrants' home state and host country. Public Health Nurses also need to consider the fact that the new identities and social relations of immigrants are rooted in their everyday live. It is essential to strengthen the positive impacts that such identity have on health, and address its negative influences.