Diabetes and Hypertension in Marshallese Adults: Results from Faith-Based Health Screenings

• Published in: Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities 2017-12, Vol.4 (6), p.1042-1050
• Main Authors: McElfish, Pearl Anna, Rowland, Brett, Long, Christopher R., Hudson, Jonell, Piel, Michelle, Buron, Bill, Riklon, Sheldon, Bing, Williamina Ioanna, Warmack, T. Scott
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asian Americans; Associations; Bilingualism; Biometrics; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Body size; Churches; Collaboration; Community based action research; Community involvement; Community participation; Consent; Data collection; Demographics; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Epidemiology; Health care; Health insurance; Hemoglobin; Hypertension; Interdisciplinary aspects; Measurement techniques; Medicaid; Medical screening; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obesity; ORIGINAL PAPERS; Overweight; Pacific Islander people; Participatory research; Quality of Life Research; Religious congregations; Religious organizations; Risk behavior; Risk factors; Risk taking; Secondary schools; Social Inequality; Social Structure; Surveillance; Uninsured people
• ISSN: 2197-3792; 2196-8837
• DOI: 10.1007/s40615-016-0308-y

Background The Pacific Islander population in the USA is growing rapidly. However, research on Pacific Islanders in the USA is limited, or sometimes misleading due to aggregation with Asian Americans. This project seeks to add to the dearth of health literature by conducting a health assessment of Marshallese in northwest Arkansas. Methods Using a community-based participatory research approach, nine health screening events were conducted at local Marshallese churches. Participants completed the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey core questionnaire and diabetes module if applicable. Biometric data, including Hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and body mass index, were gathered by an interprofessional team. Results Four hundred one participants completed health screenings. High proportions of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension were found. A high percentage of participants were uninsured, and multiple barriers to health care were found within the sample. Discussion This project represents one of the first broad health assessments of Pacific Islanders in the USA. Proportions of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and uninsured found in the sample are much higher than national proportions.