Diet quality and hypertension in ethnically diverse U.S.-born and foreign-born Blacks: Quantitative and qualitative approaches
Brown, Alison.
2017
-
Abstract: According to existing epidemiological data, the morbidity and
mortality of non-Hispanic Blacks (referred to as 'Blacks' hereafter) from diet-related
diseases are higher than other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Blacks in the
U.S. are also generally reported to have poor diet quality and are less likely to meet
national dietary recommendations. A major limitation of this e... read morepidemiological evidence,
however, is the lack of consideration of the ethnic heterogeneity within the Black
population. For example, this broad category includes African Americans, Sub-Saharan
Africans (e.g., Kenyans and Nigerians), or Afro-Caribbeans such as Haitians and Jamaicans.
Combined, Caribbean-born, self-identified Black immigrants and African-born immigrants make
up an estimated 8.7% of the U.S. Black population and the Census Bureau projects that by
2060, 16.5% of U.S. Blacks will be immigrants. With this ethnic diversity among Blacks
includes heterogeneity of cultures and social realities that would potentially influence
lifestyle behaviors, food and taste preferences, diet, and ultimately disease risk. Using
quantitative and qualitative methods, this proposed research considered nativity/place of
birth among Blacks in the examination of diet quality and the likelihood of having
hypertension among this demographic. Aims 1 and 2 were based on pooled data from a
nationally representative, cohort study of a sample drawn from the U.S. population, the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study. Aim 1 examined the
association between nativity among Blacks and adherence to the Alternative Healthy Eating
Index (AHEI)-2010 and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, while Aim 2
explored the association between nativity and the likelihood of having hypertension.
Informed by Satia-Abouta's model of dietary acculturation, the final qualitative aim used
focus groups and in-depth interviews to examine the influence of nativity and culture on
dietary practices among ethnically heterogeneous Blacks in Boston. The results from Aim 1
showed that foreign-born, non-Hispanic Blacks had significantly higher AHEI-2010, and DASH
diet scores and more favorable intakes of fruit (excluding fruit juice), vegetables
(excluding potatoes), whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and omega-3 fatty acids, and
lower intakes of processed/red meat and sugar-sweetened beverages compared to U.S.-born
Blacks after adjusting for covariates such as education and income. Among foreign-born
Blacks, AHEI-2010 scores or its individual components did not significantly differ by
length of residency. The results from Aim 2 found that nearly half (43.5%) of U.S.-born
Blacks and only 27.8% of foreign-born Blacks had hypertension. After adjusting for major
covariates, foreign-born Blacks were 39.0% less likely to have hypertension than their
U.S.-born counterparts. Among foreign-born Blacks, length of U.S. residency was not
significantly associated with risk of hypertension. In the qualitative analysis,
Caribbean/Latin American-born and African-born Blacks in Boston cited the important role of
their cultural identity in influencing their dietary preferences, while U.S.-born Blacks
demonstrated a variation of preferences for traditionally African American foods. Themes
around availability, accessibility, and cost of culturally appropriate foods varied by
place of birth. Among foreign-born Blacks, themes related to dietary preferences and values
also varied by age of migration, length of residency, and income. This study demonstrates
that in the U.S. foreign-born Blacks generally have better diet quality and more favorable
hypertension outcomes than their U.S.-born counterparts, and highlights the potential
cultural influences of these differences. These study findings underscore the need for
public health and nutrition research to consider the differences in nativity and ethnicity
among the U.S. Black population and explore the underlying cultural, social, behavioral,
and environmental factors contributing to these differences. Ultimately, this research
helps to fill gaps in the literature and extend knowledge necessary to help address
racial/ethnic health disparities among Blacks in the U.S. through the development of more
culturally appropriate public health interventions.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2017.
Submitted to the Dept. of Food Policy & Applied Nutrition.
Advisor: Sara Folta.
Committee: Robert Houser, Alice Lichtenstein, and Josiemer Mattei.
Keywords: Nutrition, Public health, and African American studies.read less - ID:
- dv1405943
- Component ID:
- tufts:22240
- To Cite:
- DCA Citation Guide EndNote
