Abstract
Although over 1.5 million African immigrants live in the US, few studies have examined the relationship of language acculturation
to health outcomes among African immigrant adults. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship
between English proficiency and current self-rated health among African immigrant adults. Using a cross-sectional design,
a secondary data analysis was performed on baseline data from the African immigrant adult subsample (n = 763) of the 2003
New Immigrant Survey, a longitudinal study of lawful permanent residents. Limited English proficiency (LEP), increased duration
of US residence, older age at immigration, being male, less than 12 years of education, poor pre-migration health, and chronic
disease were associated with good/fair/poor current self-rated health. Findings support consideration of pre-migration health
and chronic disease in future acculturation and health studies, and provision of linguistically competent interventions for
LEP African immigrants at risk for poor health outcomes.
to health outcomes among African immigrant adults. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship
between English proficiency and current self-rated health among African immigrant adults. Using a cross-sectional design,
a secondary data analysis was performed on baseline data from the African immigrant adult subsample (n = 763) of the 2003
New Immigrant Survey, a longitudinal study of lawful permanent residents. Limited English proficiency (LEP), increased duration
of US residence, older age at immigration, being male, less than 12 years of education, poor pre-migration health, and chronic
disease were associated with good/fair/poor current self-rated health. Findings support consideration of pre-migration health
and chronic disease in future acculturation and health studies, and provision of linguistically competent interventions for
LEP African immigrants at risk for poor health outcomes.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9614-6
- Authors
- Maria-Theresa C. Okafor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
- Olivia D. Carter-Pokras, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, USA
- Sandra J. Picot, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Min Zhan, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912