Improving African immigrant and refugee health: A community-based participatory research initiative

African-born individuals account for four percent of the total population in the United States. In the Washington, D.C. area, African immigrants equal 11% of the total population, making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in which African immigrants reside in the United States. Unfortunately, the unique health needs of this population are often missed because Africans are grouped into the larger racial category of African American/Black. Statistics indicate that many of the chronic and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS), are burdensome for African immigrants as well. For example, African immigrants are three times more likely to be infected with hepatitis B virus than Asian immigrants and four times more likely to be infected than European immigrants. In Maryland, recent reports indicate that AIDS cases among African immigrants are as high as 2.3%, slightly higher than the total population percentage of Africans (2.0%) living in the state. To address the unique health needs of African immigrants, the Center on Health Disparities at Adventist HealthCare developed Project BEAT IT! (Becoming Empowered Africans through Improved Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, Hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS). The program provides culturally appropriate strategies to improve disease self-management among African patients with type 2 diabetes, hepatitis B, and/or HIV/AIDS, and training to assist healthcare providers in delivering culturally competent care. Successful development and implementation of Project BEAT IT! occurs with input from African immigrants and refugees with chronic and infectious diseases and their healthcare providers.