Abstract

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than two-thirds of African immigrants in the Washington metro area arrived since 1990 and more than one-third arrived just between 2000 and 2005. The health status and needs of this diverse population remain largely unexamined, unlike for many other immigrant groups. Hence, there is a clear and unmet need to determine the risks and prevalence for chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes, etc. The project capitalized on key areas of core competencies, blood pressure, blood sugar, cancer screenings and educational outreach. Culturally, relevant educational outreach, referrals and screening services were provided to participants with consented survey tool. Two phases were involved in the project. The sample size had more college graduates than other levels of education. More of the participants acknowledged that they had knowledge of healthy blood pressure and knew what to do in case of heart attack. However, it is important to note that only 41% of the participants had knowledge of fruits and vegetable, 24% of sodium and 35% of cholesterol content of food, the rationale for our educational outreach, screening and referral initiation. The authors are calling for more engagement in outreach education for sustainability, especially on relationship between lifestyle (diet, smoking, etc) and heart disease, in order to build capacity and prevent the most deadly diseases in the African immigrant community.