Health Promotion among Individuals with Haitian Heritage
Cultural competence has become among the most important healthcare initiatives in the US and the rest of the world. There is an increase in diversity and hence the need for incorporating and comprehending the cultures of individuals during healthcare. According to Purnell (2013), a healthcare provider could possess knowledge of standard interventions and treatments as well as laboratory values for heart disease and diabetes mellitus, among others, but if recommendations are incompatible with the patient’s personal beliefs, views towards wellness, and dietary practices, then the treatment plan may not be followed. Health promotion needs to incorporate important cultural aspects to ensure inclusivity and acceptability among the targeted group. This paper will focus on health promotion among individuals of Haitian heritage.
The population of Haitians in the US is not properly documented, probably due to the US Census Bureau’s failure to track the large numbers of immigrants who are undocumented. From the 2010 census, Haitians make up about 0.3 percent (830,000) of the American population, with most of them living in New York (19%) and Florida (49%) (Purnell, 2013; Olsen-Medina and Batalova, 2020). According to Olsen-Medina and Batalova (2020), there was a 17 percent increment in the number of Haitians from 2010 to 2018. After the devastating 2010 earthquake, a Temporary Protected Status was extended to Haitians in the US, providing temporary relief from deportation and work authorization. Over 55,000 Haitians have been granted the TPS (Olsen-Medina & Batalova, 2020). The median age of Haitian immigrants is 46 years which is higher than for the US-born, 36 years. Haitians are slightly younger than Caribbean immigrants in general, whose median age is 49 years (Olsen-Medina & Batalova, 2020). In 2018, roughly 77 percent of Haitian immigrants were working-age, whereas 16 percent were older than 65 years. In 2018, about 79 percent of Haitian Americans aged 25 and above had a high school degree or higher, and those with a bachelor’s degree or higher were, 19 percent. (Olsen-Medina & Batalova, 2020). Generally, Purnell (2013) notes that although most Haitians value education, very few are privileged enough to attain any formal education.
With increased interactions and intermarriages between indigenous Haitians and Africans or Europeans, Haitians usually range from dark to light-skinned, and social identity is shaped by color consciousness and class stratification. Generally, Colin (2010) notes that Haitians living in the US strongly resist acculturation, taking great pride in preserving their traditional, family, religious, spiritual, and cultural values. This is supported by Purnell (2013), who claims that Haitian immigrants often have a high level of self-esteem concerning their blackness, even though in private and public discourse, they may concentrate on class division and color. Haiti is defined as a black nation, and therefore the Haitians identify with the black race, but the concept of color differs from that of race.
In 2018, 71 percent of Haitian immigrants above the age of 16 took part in the civilian labor force. Haitian immigrant women were more likely to be in the labor force than other female immigrant populations (Olsen-Medina & Batalova, 2020). Most Haitian immigrant women work in hospitals, hotels, and other service industries, whereas men work as factory helpers and laborers (Purnell, 2013). The unemployment rate among the Haitians is about 66 percent, and those who work do so under very poor conditions, causing them to be unmotivated and take minimal pride in their work and resulting in low productivity (Purnell, 2013). In general, Haitians are considered entrepreneurial and have great pride, spirit, and motivation in their work, with a majority of them working at least 2 jobs to be able to support their families in the US and back home in Haiti.
Since Haiti is a tropical island, prevalent diseases include malaria, parasitosis, and cholera. Haiti does not have mosquito control, and therefore newer immigrants need to be assessed for signs of malaria-like fatigue, fever, and chills. Other common diseases among Haitian immigrants include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, parasitosis, venereal diseases, and tuberculosis. Most Haitians in the US live in overcrowded regions with poor sanitary conditions and are malnourished, enhancing the risk of infectious diseases.
Haitians usually employ self-treatment and see such activities as a way of promoting health or preventing disease. The first resort is usually to try home remedies, using various oral or topical medicines on hand. Most Haitians purchase drugs without a prescription. Those in the US constantly ask those in Haiti to send medications like leaves, roots, and other drugs familiar to them. Orthodox medicine is perceived as a second choice, and such delayed treatment poses a major risk to patients. Most Haitians believe that conventional medicine physicians have no comprehension of voudou and hence cannot cure certain illnesses related to witchcraft. Furthermore, most Haitians have low-paying jobs with no health insurance, barring health promotion. For those unable to speak proper English, accessing healthcare becomes a major problem as they find it difficult to explain their needs or comprehend treatment and prescriptions.
Haitians are prone to hypertension and diabetes, factors that reflect their diet (high in salt, cholesterol, and fat) and genetics. Data on the prevalence of diabetes among Haitian immigrants in the US is difficult to assess, given that they identify as Blacks. However, Magny-Normilus and Whittemore (2020) state that the prevalence of diabetes among Blacks, including Haitian immigrants, is 13.2 percent. Besides type 1 and 2 diabetes, there is also type 3 malnutrition-related diabetes or tropical diabetes. Haitians also experience high rates of heart disease, common among females than males. Fatty foods common among Haitians have been highly attributed to the high prevalence of heart diseases. Another major mortality and morbidity risk factor among Haitians in the US is drug abuse and alcoholism. Purnell (2013) reveals that alcohol plays an important role in Haitian society, and drinking is culturally approved among men and is used socially whenever friends gather. Cigarette smoking is also common among Haitian men, and efforts to reduce cigarette smoking in American society have had little impact on Haitians. Drug abuse among Haitian adolescents is also on the rise. With high levels of drug abuse and alcoholism in Haitian society, the probability of diseases like cancer is also high.
To lessen the high risk of mortality and morbidity caused by diabetes among Haitians, physical activity and diet promotion programs are necessary to prevent type 2 diabetes. The Haitian diet is usually high in fat and carbohydrates. Purnell (2013) reveals that eating right among the Haitians is eating adequate food to feel full and sustain constant body weight, which is mostly higher than the weight standards commonly recommended in the US. Since Haitians value family and community living, promoting physical activity and proper diet might be more effective through community programs like community sports. This will require combined efforts from a professional dietician, coach, and community members, among others, to offer individualized dietary plans for members and promote a healthier lifestyle. Promoting physical activity and diet promotion should target the population as a whole and not only the ones suffering from diabetes so as to prevent further occurrences.
With physical activity programs, it is also possible to prevent the risk of hypertension and heart disease among Haitians in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) suggest such healthy living habits as eating a healthy diet, remaining physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol intake, sufficient sleep, and avoiding tobacco use to reduce the level of blood pressure, which enhances the risk of stroke and heart attack. Most Haitian women are overweight because Haitian men like their women plump, thereby explaining the high prevalence of heart disease among women (Purnell, 2013). It is important to make use of small circles among Haitian women to promote healthy living and maintaining proper weight through proper diets. Healthcare workers could also play a role in encouraging such healthy lifestyles whenever individuals of Haitian heritage seek medication.
Drug education, especially among Haitian adolescents, should be more about increasing health literacy than lifestyle marketing. Schools and the community could play an important role in enhancing literacy on the use of drugs. Community group activities and the church can be good avenues to help promote behavioral changes among Haitian Americans since attempts to alter firmly held beliefs are usually counterproductive to establishing relationships with healthcare providers (Purnell, 2013). The church and schools can offer counseling to at-risk populations. In this case, Haitian Americans and a few individuals in the counseling team should have a Haitian heritage so as to promote trust. Through such avenues, the dangers of high levels of alcohol intake and smoking should be outlined, and moderate or quitting drinking and smoking should be encouraged. Generally, health promotion activities that can reduce the risk of the common disease among Haitian Americans are majorly associated with physical activities and proper eating. However, it is also important for the government to channel efforts that could help Haitian Americans have better employment and literacy opportunities to enhance the efficacy of health promotion activities.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (February 24, 2020). Prevent High Blood Pressure. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/prevent.htm#:~:text=Physical%20activity%20can%20help%20keep,day%2C%205%20days%20a%20week
Colin, J. M. (2010). Cultural and clinical care for Haitians. Retrieved from https://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Haiti_Cultural_and_Clinical_Care_Presentation_Read-Only.pdf
Magny-Normilus, C., & Whittemore, R. (2020). Haitian Immigrants and Type 2 Diabetes: An Integrative Review. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 22(2), 399-409.
Olsen-medina, K & Batalova, J. (August 12, 2020). Haitian Immigrants in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/haitian-immigrants-united-states-2018
Purnell, L. D. (2013). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach. F.A. Davis Company.
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Health Promotion among Individuals with Haitian Heritage
Community Health Promotion Project
In a Microsoft Word document of 5 pages formatted in APA style, you will focus on health promotion for a population of your choosing. Please note that the title and reference pages should not be included in the total page count of your paper.
Include the following in your paper:
- Identify the population you chose and analyze relevant information pertaining to the chosen population.
- demographics
- socioeconomics
- environmental hazards
- access to healthcare
Health Promotion among Individuals with Haitian Heritage
- Analyze and discuss four mortality and morbidity risk factors for your selected population.
- Suggest a health promotion activity for each health issue identified from your analysis.
- Utilize the textbook and library resources to support your findings and recommendations in relation to your chosen population.
On a separate references page, cite all sources using APA format. Helpful APA guides and resources are available in the South University Online Library. Below are guides that are located in the library and can be accessed and downloaded via the South University Online Citation Resources: APA Style page. The American Psychological Association website also provides detailed guidance on formatting, citations, and references at APA Style.
- APA Citation Helper
- APA Citations Quick Sheet
- APA-Style Formatting Guidelines for a Written Essay
- Basic Essay Template
- TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH CARE: A Culturally Competent Approach