Arab American immigrants in New York: health care and cancer knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs.
Arab immigrants living in the United States total between 1.5 million and 3.5 million, and have been growing in number each decade. New York's Arab population, at 405,000, ranks third in the U.S. after California and Michigan. Despite the large numbers, little health research has focused on this population. Data about the cancer incidence, mortality, and screening practices of Arab Americans is overwhelmingly lacking. To better understand the health care and cancer knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Arab American immigrants, five single-gender focus groups were convened with Arab men and women in New York City. Attention was given to factors that act as barriers to utilization of general health care services, and of cancer prevention, treatment, and support services. The data revealed the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health interventions in partnership with trusted community leaders, and the need for follow-up research of this understudied immigrant population.
Shah
Susan M
SM
Center for Immigrant Health, New York University School of Medicine, 462 First Avenue, OBV CD402, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Ayash
Claudia
C
Pharaon
Nora Alarifi
NA
Gany
Francesca M
FM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data