Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Pelagia Melea

Abstract

Even though hypertension affects people of all races, it is more prevalent among African Americans. However, recent research has revealed that the prevalence of hypertension is progressively increasing across Africa. African immigrants in the United States are the least-studied immigrant group prone to health inequalities when compared to their African American counterparts. To help bridge this gap, a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between working habits (hours worked, diet at work), length of stay in the United States, and hypertension rates for first-generation African immigrants residing in the United States. The study was guided by a theoretical framework that adopted a cognitive transactional model of stress. Secondary data were extracted from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES); following exclusion criteria based on missing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, country of origin, and age group, 118 participants were qualified for the final analysis. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive, chi-square and binary logistic regression. The study findings revealed no significant association between work habits and hypertension. The study findings also revealed that there was no significant relationship between the length of stay in the United States and the likelihood of a first-generation African immigrant developing hypertension. The results of this study will contribute to positive social change by educating the community on cardiovascular health thereby, improving the physical and mental health of people in the community. This will help increase the health literacy of the community, which in turn will reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

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