title: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors across six African Immigrant Groups in Minnesota.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although African immigrants represent a large and growing segment of the U.S. population, there are little or no data available on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among this diverse population. This study compared the prevalence of self-reported CVD risk factors and health behaviors and examined the associations between immigration related characteristics and CVD risk factors and health behaviors across six African immigrants groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from 996 African immigrants in the U.S., (37.9% Somalis; 26.8% Ethiopians; 14% Liberians; 8.5% Sudanese; 5.1% Kenyans and 7.8% others group) from a cross-sectional survey conducted in the Twin cities of Minnesota. Logistic regression models estimated the associations of demographic characteristics, and immigration-related factors (length of stay in the United states, English proficiency, income and health insurance) with prevalence of CVD risk factors (overweight/obese; hypertension and diabetes mellitus) and self-reported health behaviors (cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, conscious effort to exercise and eating a healthy diet).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a relatively low self-reported prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. However, significant differences were noted by country of origin. Using Somalis as our referent country of origin group, we found that Liberians and Kenyans were more likely to report having diabetes or hypertension. On all measures of health behaviors, Liberians were more likely to engage in more health protective behaviors than other individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although African immigrants have different prevalence rates for CVD risk factors and health behaviors, there is a need to further explore the differences observed by country of emigration.
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. sewal026@umn.edu.|Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. sewal026@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Barrett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sewali
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. harco002@umn.edu.|Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. harco002@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Nonyelum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harcourt
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. saer@umn.edu.|Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. saer@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Everson-Rose
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. robertl@ccbr.umn.edu.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Leduc
authors.affiliation: New American Community Services, Minneapolis, MN, 55104, USA. warfason@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sirad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. miallen@umn.edu.|Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. miallen@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. kokuyemi@umn.edu.|Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware St. SE. Ste. 166, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. kokuyemi@umn.edu.|Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA. kokuyemi@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Kolawole S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Okuyemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology