Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Vasileios Margaritis

Abstract

The incidence and knowledge of the risk factors of stroke across ethnic groups in the United States have been examined in multiple studies. However, it is not well known if the foreign-born African immigrants who constitute about 4% of the U.S. immigrant population are at a higher risk of the incidence of stroke than are other nonimmigrant population in the U. S. This ethnographic study explored the perceptions of Anglophone African male immigrants residing in San Diego on the risk factors of stroke. The theoretical framework for this study included the health belief model and the health promotion model. Data were collected through unstructured, in-depth interviews with 8 male participants. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Nvivo 10 computer software and reviewed manually. A key finding was that most of the participants reported a lack or limited knowledge of stroke disease and no knowledge of the warning signs of stroke prior to migrating to the United States, but that they acquired some knowledge after integrating into mainstream U.S. society. Other findings were that using preventive services such as engaging in periodic medical check-ups and screening for high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol were not common practices in the home countries of the participants; that the participants considered women as resource persons on health issues; and that the participants struggled with negative attributes associated with sickness and hospitals. Results of this study might encourage changes in the health behaviors and beliefs of the African-born male adults by raising their knowledge and awareness of the prevalence of stroke and preventive measures available to them in the community.

Download

Share

 
COinS