Conducting Community-Based Research in An African Immigrant Population: Lessons Learned

Author:

Gona Clara M.1,Kieran Kathryn2,Durning Jennifer3,O’Brien Lisa-Marie24,Gotora Rosalia5,Gordon Tricia16,Gona Philimon N.7

Affiliation:

1. 1 Family Nurse Practitioner Program, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA

2. 2 School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA

3. 3 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA

4. 4 Health Professions Education, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA

5. 5 Independent Human Services, Meriden, CT

6. 6 Munn Center for Nursing Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

7. 7 Department of Exercise and Health Science, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA

Abstract

Background Although small, the African immigrant population is one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the United States. Emerging research indicates a high prevalence of noncommunicable preventable chronic conditions in this population. Like other African Americans, African immigrants are mistrustful of the health care system, hampering efforts for prevention and intervention research. Purpose To describe our experiences conducting 2 studies in an African immigrant community, discuss the lessons learned, and provide advice to researchers interested in conducting research in similar populations. Design The 2 published studies for which we derive lessons learned for this paper were a cross-sectional study and a qualitative study using focus group interviews. Participants included Zimbabwean immigrants in the Eastern United States recruited at religious festivals and community events. The 2 studies enrolled a total of 135 participants. Results Of our recruitment goal of 120 in the first study, we enrolled only 98 despite numerous efforts. However, after strategically partnering with a community advisory board (CAB), in the second study, we met our recruitment goal within 4 months. With the CAB, we recruited a larger proportion of men (38% versus 24%). Without the CAB, 350 individuals agreed to participate, but only 98 (28%) returned the questionnaire, whereas with the CAB, 40 agreed to participate, and 37 (93%) successfully completed the study. Conclusion Conducting health-related research in immigrants requires strategic partnerships with the community to build strong relationships between the research team and the target community. By nurturing these relationships, research teams can effectively access this hard-to-reach population and achieve high participation.

Publisher

Ethnicity and Disease Inc

Reference37 articles.

1. Lorenzi J, Batalova J. 2022. Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in the United States. Last accessed June 19, 2023 from https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/sub-saharan-african-immigrants-united-states

2. Gambino CP, Trevelyan EN, Fitzwater JT. 2012. The Foreign-Born Population from Africa:2008-2012. Last accessed June 19, 2023 from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2014/acs/acsbr12-16.html

3. Analysis of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of African immigrants in USA;Nyamwange;Int J Humanit Soc Sci,2014

4. Do country-of-origin characteristics help explain variation in health among Black immigrants in the United States;Hamilton;Soc Sci Q,2014

5. The health status of Zimbabwean immigrants in the US: a needs assessment;Gona;Clin Nurs Research,2021

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