title: Health assessment of the Arab American community in southwest Brooklyn.
abstract: Data on Arab American health is lacking nationwide. This survey of the Arab American community in southwest Brooklyn assessed perceptions of health status, needs, behaviors, and access to services. Bilingual interviewers administered a structured survey to community members in public gathering places. Of 353 surveyed, 43% were men and 57% women, most spoke Arabic and were Muslim, and most had moved to the U.S. after 1990. One quarter were unemployed. Over 50% reported household incomes below federal poverty level. Nearly 30% had no health insurance. 58% reported choosing their health care venue based on language considerations. 43% reported problems in getting health care, including ability to pay, language barriers, and immigration. 42% of men, and 8% of women reported current smoking. Almost half of respondents never exercised. Rates of poverty, lack of health insurance, and smoking in men are cause for concern and were high even for immigrant groups.
authors.affiliation: Arab American Center, 7111 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarsour
authors.forename: Virginia S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talbi
authors.forename: Kell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Julliard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult