Using a community-based participatory approach to empower and improve health status among African immigrants

Background: African immigrants are a rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population, with diverse health needs and lifestyles. Little is known about the health profile of this population. Upon arrival in the U.S., African immigrants seem to have a health advantage over their American counterparts and other non-African immigrants. However, this health advantage diminishes with increased duration of residence in the U.S. This decline in health may be linked to Westernization—including a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet and subsequent increased risk for chronic disease. Additional research is needed to identify the health needs and best ways to address these needs.

Objective: To use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to identify perceived health needs and barriers/enablers to meeting these health needs among African immigrants.

Methods: Community Advisory Committees (CAC) in Pittsburgh, PA (6-members) and Silver Spring, MD (9-members) comprised of African immigrant community leaders convened and met three times over a 1.5-month period to discuss and identify perceived health needs and barriers/enablers to meeting these health needs.

Results: CACs identified chronic disease, mental health, HIV/AIDS, and stress as major health concerns. Shame/secrecy/stigma, cultural factors/spiritual beliefs and employment/immigration status were identified as barriers to health needs; social and faith based community events and social-networking/media outreach were suggested as enablers to meeting health needs.

Conclusion: A CBPR approach is an essential tool for mobilizing and empowering African immigrant communities to identify and address their health needs. Identifying community partners and gatekeepers is instrumental to the success of CBPR in this population.